First Citizen’s Police Academy advances 26 residents

  HOULTON, Maine — Twenty six residents graduated last week from Houlton’s first Citizen’s Police Academy which aims to foster better relations between the department and the community. Lt. Daniel Pelletier along with Sgts. Eric Crouse and Fred Parker conducted the ceremony and awarding of certificates in Chief Butch Asselin’s absence. Asselin, however, did speak to the graduates via telephone to congratulate them since he was out of town due to the birth of his first grandson. (See special Father’s Day section for two related  articles.)
About 60 men, women and children were present for the awarding of certificates and brief remarks. Lt. Pelletier spoke on behalf of Asselin saying how proud the department was of each student while congratulating them on their accomplishment of attending and completing the 10-week training course. Asselin also commended Sgts. Crouse and Parker for their work on developing the curriculum and course materials.
Sue Tortello, on behalf of her fellow classmates, presented a plaque to the department expressing the students’ appreciation to the department for their shared experience. Several other students spoke extemporaneously about the positive experience and what they had learned.
Bruce Tilton, who has lived in Texas, Colorado and St. John, N.B. commended the HPD as being “the finest in the country, if not the world.” Following the awarding of certificates, Amanda Boulier and Coral Botting agreed that the average person “would be amazed at what Houlton’s police have to deal with that the town doesn’t know.”
The success of the first training class may lead to future sessions although no firm plans are in place.