New police chief making plans for spring
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
THE CITY’S NEW POLICE CHIEF, Matthew Irwin, pictured in civilian attire, met with staff from the police and fire departments the night he was hired by City Council to assume the duties once held by Chief Naldo Gagnon.
Gagnon left the department last fall to take the position of deputy chief with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Irwin, whose experience in law enforcement comes from many years of service with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Fla.,, said he’s looking forward to assuming the role of police chief for Presque Isle. Pictured from left: Sgt. Laurie Kelly, PIPD; Irwin; Sgt. Joey Seeley, PIPD (back to camera); Sgt. Eric Erickson, PIPD; and Darrell White, chief of the PIFD.
PRESQUE ISLE — Matthew “Matt” Irwin will officially assume the duties of chief of the Presque Isle Police Department come the first week of April.
Hired during a Feb. 22 meeting of City Council, Irwin was nominated by City Manager Jim Bennett, based on his lengthy experience in law enforcement.
Bennett said he was pleased to make the nomination, based on the recommendation of a seven-member hiring committee that included: Councilor Mel Hovey and Council Deputy Chair Emily Smith; resident and State Trooper Chuck Michaud; resident and Professor of Criminal Justice Charles Johnson; Police Labor Union representative and PIPD Officer Kevin Schumacher; representative Miles Williams, president of the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce; and City Management Team representative Larry Clark.
“Interviews were pretty extensive. The committee was given the task of submitting three candidates to my office, with Matt coming with a strong recommendation,” said Bennett.
Bennett said Irwin comes with an impressive background, after years of working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, based in Orlando, Fla.
“To have someone with Matt’s experience express interest … he’s an excellent addition to the community and the city’s management team,” said Bennett, who noted Irwin’s most recent position he served as lieutenant, managing a staff of 78 in his department.
“He comes from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which has 1,400 sworn officers, about 40 lieutenants and a handful of majors. In all, the agency employs about 2,200 people,” said Bennett.
Bennett said he’d done his own research, determining Irwin comes with “an impeccable record.”
“What people have said, Matt would be in the top five percent of the most liked and appreciated in his 26 years of law enforcement, including over 15 years in the investigative arm. He’s also been lead investigator on cases that made national and worldwide news, including the Casey Anthony murder case,” said Bennett.
In addition, Irwin was commander/lieutenant of a sex crimes unit from 2005-08.
Bennett said Irwin was the best choice for the position, given his lengthy resume of accomplishments in Florida. He said he understood concerns that Irwin wasn’t from Maine but noted the new chief actually has connections to the state.
“His wife, Nicole, has family in the state. Her parents are from the Dover-Foxcroft area,” said Bennett.
During the February meeting, councilors approved $3,000 to assist the Irwins with moving expenses. Irwin’s starting salary will be $60,500 per year, with a $1,250 increase at the conclusion of the six-month probationary period. He’ll also have be eligible for benefits, including the use of a cruiser to get to and from the station, provided he lives within a 15-mile radius of the police department.
In his letter applying for the position, Irwin indicated he and his wife were planning to move to Maine upon his retirement from his current job and when the vacancy was announced in Presque Isle, they thought it would be a perfect fit.
In his letter to the city dated Nov. 21, Irwin stated, “My wife and I are planning to move to your beautiful state and very recently spent time enjoying the city of Presque Isle. We both found it to be a memorable city, making it to the top of our list of places to relocate. I am a current participant in Florida’s retirement system and am in a position to relocate as soon as the right opportunity presents itself.”
Following Council’s decision to hire him, Irwin said he was looking forward to the move.
“My wife and I are anxious to get to know the community and its citizens. We’ve visited the state before and love it here,” said Irwin.
Plans have already begun for the transition, with Sgt. Laurie Kelly, acting as interim chief, helping Irwin to schedule classes at the police academy in Vassalboro — classes that will enable him to get up to speed on Maine laws.
“The courses are similar to those Officer Kevin Schumacher had to take when he moved here from South Carolina,” said Kelly.
