Pearson looking forward to life in northern Maine

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Despite about 27 years with law enforcement in Florida, Presque Isle Police Department’s newest officer, Cpl. Tom Pearson, is familiar with cold weather. A native of northwestern Pennsylvania, Pearson arrived in northern Maine to assume his role with the PIPD in January.
“I worked for the Winter Park Police Department from 1990 until January of this year. While there, I had my hands in about every part of the agency I could. I started with patrol, then moved up to patrol sergeant, then patrol lieutenant along the way,” said Pearson.
While with the WPPD, he served as a drug agent for two years and as drug agent supervisor for three.
“I also worked special operations for about two years — parking enforcement, parades, road races, special events in the park. I was part of the first bicycle patrol unit and did that about three years. That was probably the funnest part of my career,” he said. “I spent a lot of time in community services, including the bike patrol unit. I served twice as sergeant and again as lieutenant.”
He served much of his career as part of the SWAT Team.
“I was a 23-year member — primarily with the WPPD, then served the Central Florida Metro SWAT Team, which teamed me with officers from other cities in the area,” said Pearson.
His experience includes supervisory duties as well.
“I was accreditation manager for two years. Florida has a statewide accreditation program; I was in charge of making sure our officers passed. I prepared and coordinated the entire effort. I was in charge of and performed hiring, background checks and twice in charge of training for the agency,” said Pearson, noting, “I was lucky to work in a place where I did a whole lot of different things.”
He also worked on internal affairs investigations while with WPPD.
Pearson said he wrote grants for the Florida department and looks forward to doing the same at PIPD.
He’s looking forward to sharing his knowledge with others.
“I’d like to mentor other officers. My goal is to share some of the training I’ve obtained and bring them along as others have for me,” said Pearson. “As corporal with the PIPD, I serve as patrol commander.
This isn’t his first time in Maine.
“I visited the area in the past, been here a few times and liked it. Before this position came up (he replaced Cpl. Wayne Selfridge, who retired in December 2014), I was shopping for a vacation-type home. I grew up in Pennsylvania. I moved here for the winter weather; I missed winter,” he said.
Growing up, he said he was an avid outdoorsman come winter, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing.
“My hometown is Emporium — lived there until I was 14. I moved to Bradford until I was 20, and attended the University of Pittsburgh,” he said. “Bradford had a depressed economy. I attended college for a semester, didn’t see any opportunities there and thought a change was necessary. I had an older sister in Florida, so I moved with the intent of finishing my degree. I worked part-time as a gas station attendant.”
It was at the gas station that he first became interested in law enforcement.
“We had a clean bathroom and I always made a pot of coffee for the officers who’d stop by. One said one day I should do a ride-along. The rest, as they say, is history. I was hooked,” said Pearson.
Pearson eventually completed his education.
“I had a split major — history and political science — finished in Orlando. The ride-along went successfully, I liked it and was sponsored by Winter Park. I came out of college with a job — not something other businesses do. I finished in 1999,” said Pearson. He also has a minor in criminal justice.
Hoping to get others interested in police work, Pearson went on to instruct in at least 22 citizen academies.
Pearson arrived in Presque Isle on Jan. 14 and started work Jan. 20. Pearson, who is single, now resides in Presque Isle and is looking for the “vacation home” to buy.
“I felt after 27 years there (Winter Park), it was time to live somewhere else. One can choose to live in Maine or really live in Maine. There are a couple reasons I’m here. One is the slow pace of life and to enjoy outdoor activities. I’m in it for the outdoor stuff — have a camper and tent. I ice fished as a kid. I also have a motorcycle and love to tour. I’ve been to Canada a few times and out west,” he said.
“This is a perfect ‘jumping off’ place for me. I’ll get to see parts of Canada I haven’t seen and parts of New England I haven’t seen. I’m really looking forward to seeing where life will take me next,” said Pearson.