Chief Deputy Crandall named as Maine Elks nominee for national award

   AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Elks Association, in conjunction with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, has announced that Chief Deputy Darrell O. Crandall Jr. has been selected as the Maine Elks Association’s nominee for the prestigious Enrique “Kiki” Camerena Award.
This award has been established by the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks to recognize and honor law enforcement officers who have made a significant contribution in the field of drug prevention and who personify Camarena’s belief that “one person can make a difference.”
Crandall will be formally recognized by members of the Maine Elks Association at a ceremony at the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office in Houlton on Friday, April 11 at 3 p.m. He was nominated for this award by Aroostook County Sheriff James P. Madore and endorsed by the officers and members of the Houlton Elks Lodge.
Crandall began his law enforcement career with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office in 1985 and was assigned to work with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency from 1989 to 2013. He was a field agent from 1989-93 and was promoted to supervisory special agent in 1993, serving in that capacity until 2005 when he was promoted to Northern Division Commander. He held that position until he was appointed chief deputy sheriff.
Madore said he was pleased that the Elks recognized the hard work and dedication displayed by Chief Deputy Crandall. “His personal and professional accomplishments are second to none. He is an administrative and operational leader in the field of drug enforcement,” Madore said.
“Darrell has certainly made outstanding contributions in the field of drug awareness and prevention and more than meets the standards required to receive the Enrique S. Carmarena Award,” he added. “This recognition by the Maine Elks Association not only brings honor to Chief Deputy Crandall, but to all members of the office who are diligent in their combined efforts to keep our children safe from the dangers of drugs,” he added.
Dwayne Guy, president of the Maine Elks Association, added that the Maine Elks “are proud to recognize the efforts of Chief Deputy Crandall and all members of the law enforcement community that work diligently on behalf of all of us for a drug-free society.”
J. Andrew Bolz, Chairman of the Maine Elks Association’s Drug Awareness Program said he was impressed when he reviewed Crandall’s nomination. “We had excellent nominees this past year; however, Chief Deputy Crandall’s work history and dedication in the field of drug awareness/prevention were the deciding factors in forwarding his name as the Maine Elks Association’s nominee for national recognition,” Bolz said.
“We are very proud to have the opportunity to sponsor such a dedicated deputy for this national recognition,” said Joe Bergan, who was president of the Houlton Elks Lodge when the nomination was made. “We are proud of his accomplishments and very pleased to have him back working fulltime for the people of Aroostook County.”
The award is named in honor of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officer who was murdered by the Mexican drug cartel in 1985. Camarena grew up in a dirt-floor house, worked his way through college, served in the Marine Corps and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration he told his mother, “I’m only one person, but I want to make a
difference.”