VASSALBORO, Maine — Maine’s 58 newest police officers graduated Friday, May 19, from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. One of those officers, assigned to the Presque Isle Police Department, is the academy’s first female class valedictorian.
Officer Tonya L. Alexander earned the James L. Handley Class Valedictorian Award, MCJA Director John Rogers said Friday.
While many schools focus on academics for such recognition, Rogers said the MCJA’s valedictorian honor encompasses “the total package for a law enforcement officer.”
The award is based 50 percent on academic performance and 50 percent on law enforcement skills training, he said. Instructors evaluate skills such as shooting, emergency driving, professional values, physical fitness and MARC, which stands for “mechanics of arrest, restraint and control.”
Rogers said Alexander is the academy’s first female valedictorian in the 16 years since the school transitioned to a combined training program for all law enforcement officers, including municipal police, deputies, game wardens and Maine State Police.
The Basic Law Enforcement Training Program was initiated in June 2001 and expanded the existing police school from 12 weeks to an 18-week training period, according to the academy’s website.
Four other graduating officers will begin their work in Aroostook County. Matthew L. Brown will join Presque Isle’s police force, while Gerard R. LeMoine heads for the Caribou Police Department. Ryan D. Johnston and Alishia A. Ledger are assigned to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
Following their 18 weeks in study and training, most officers will begin patrolling immediately, in time for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, Maine Public Information Officer Stephen McCausland said in a press release.
Falmouth Police Chief Ed Tolan, the guest speaker at Friday’s graduation ceremony, reminded the graduates that they will be in the public eye until they retire.
“You will be challenged, videotaped, criticized and second guessed, but you are ready to serve your community. This is the greatest profession, and people will lean on you for guidance, leadership and empathy,” Tolan said.
The new officers studied many topics, McCausland said, including crime scene processing, emergency vehicle operation, first aid, traffic and criminal law, domestic violence and sexual assault.
Among the graduates were ten state police recruits, and Maine Marine Patrol officers, who will continue training with their respective departments before patrolling on their own.
The other new officers, listed alphabetically by department, are:
Victor A. Barr II, Androscoggin County sheriff’s office; Thomas J. Bosch-Willett, Monic E. Christian, Curtis R. Grenier, Robert W. Hallett and Edwin M. Lewis, Bangor police; Brady A. Smith, Bar Harbor police; Jonathan T. Guba, Belfast police; Peter H. Gilman, Justin E. Lavertue and Devon M. Spates, Biddeford police; Sophia J. Swiatek, Bridgton Police; Nicholas C. Bedard and Brandon T. Curtis, Brunswick police; Kevin T. Lemay, Farmington police; Keith R. Madore, Franklin County sheriff’s office; Dustin A. Caron, Freeport police; Alicia M. Gordon, Knox County sheriff’s office; Craig A. Morrill, Lewiston police; Andrew L. Levesque, Lisbon police; Jonathan M. Colby, Lincoln County sheriff’s office; Darian J. Nadeau, Livermore Falls police; Curtis C. LaBelle and Tyler M. Sirois, Maine Marine Patrol.
Also, Elizabeth P. Brunton, Daniel M. Murray, Mickael A. Nunez, Deanne Peck, Jeremy R. Pyburn, Kyle V. Russell, Sidney P. Stewart and Connor M. Walton, Maine State Police; John C. Lewis, Norway police; Courtney C. James, Orono police; Trevor A. Duby and Tyson C. Ober, Piscataquis County sheriff’s office; Michael T. Archibald, Portland police; Addison I. Cox and Aaron M. Schmitz, Rockland police; Christopher D. Miller, Sabattus police; Amanda J. Condon, Saco police; Aaron J. Erickson, Sarah J. Fasulo, Breagh M. Gomez and Holly R. Thompson, Scarborough police; Tyler P. Lafreniere, Somerset County sheriff’s office; Levi G. Soper, Southwest Harbor police; Daniel J. Landers, Knox County sheriff’s office; Brad M. Berube, University of Maine police; Cassandra L. McDonald, Waldo County sheriff’s office; Matthew W. Carter, Washington County sheriff’s office; and Patrick M. Daoust and Nicholas G. Matt, Wells police.
