I would imagine that all of us have memories that were made with friends and enemies alike. Most of mine were made with friends as I didn’t and don’t have many, if any, enemies.
One such friend is a man who is a former U.S. Air Force member, former postal worker and a former Maine State Trooper. I met Vern in the summer of 1979. He was on, I think, his first patrol area and was sitting at the Mapleton school just watching traffic one evening. Another friend and I walked up and talked with him a bit, and when my other friend introduced me to Vern, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Everybody who grew up in the local area knew or had heard the tales of Trooper George “Bud” Graves and Trooper Charlie Stewart. Both of these men were fair beyond fair and also kind of intimidating, as Bud was a rugged, big man and Charlie was so tall you almost had to get a ladder to look him in the eye. So, those thoughts going through my mind, I didn’t know quite what to think when Vern shook my hand and simply said “Pleased to meet you.”
As Vern and I talked it came out that I was a member of the local REACT team, and as such, was a sort of help to all local law enforcement as well as the general public. Now, I don’t know what made me do it, but I asked if he ever took people for a ride-along. He replied in the affirmative; just give him enough time to OK it with his superior and we would be good to go.
When the day came for us to go “for a stroll,” as he put it, I must say I felt as if I had eaten a mess of butterflies. One of the things he asked me as we set out was “What made you want to ride along?” I simply told him that I felt I needed to see what the other end looked like or the view from inside the cruiser, as opposed to the view behind the radio. He told me that sometimes it was so boring you almost wanted to count the dashed white line in the middle of the road, and then again there were times when the excitement and unknown were very much in attendance. He said that I would likely hear some pretty good excuses during the run of the evening. I knew this to be true as I had heard a few myself while I was on shore patrol in the Navy.
We stopped a few cars that night, mainly for speeding, and yes, I did hear a few good excuses. You know what, though? I never once felt uncomfortable with this man whom I barely knew, behind the wheel of the car with his badge and mace canister and his service weapon. I saw a man who had a job to do and was just as fair and every bit as big as the legends that I grew up hearing about.
I rode along a few times with Vern until he left the force, and I must say I missed seeing him on the road or hearing him sign on or off or asking info from the barracks in Houlton. I was also a scanner buff back then.
People of the county and beyond who read this, please, if nothing else, show the man in uniform the same respect as you would a military man in uniform, as they are just as much responsible for keeping you and me and our families and property safe.
At this time I would like to thank my good friend Vern Boyce for letting me tag along and ask questions, as well as his willingness to come to our REACT meetings and share how we could help him do his job.
When I see a “trooper blue” car and the words “State Trooper” on the fenders or hood or trunk, I think back to a few strolls that were educational as well as exciting for a mere civilian, and of course I Remember When . . .
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
