HOULTON, Maine — Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall announced Monday afternoon that he would not be running for a second term as sheriff.
“After several months of consideration I have decided to retire this year and not seek another term as your sheriff” said Crandall. “In retrospect, the last 32 years with the Sheriff’s Office seem to have gone by rather quickly. I have been blessed with countless career opportunities over the last three decades and my family has sacrificed much along the way so that I could take full advantage of those opportunities.”
His term does not expire until November.
Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall (File photo/Joseph Cyr)
Crandall, 51, of Houlton was elected as sheriff of Aroostook County in November, 2014 following his father’s footsteps. His father, Darrell Crandall Sr., was sheriff of the department from January 1965 until he retired in 1983.
MORE: Gillen to run for County sheriff
Following a career as a jail guard that began in 1985, the younger Crandall started as a patrol guard in 1986 and later began as a career with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, where he worked for 20 years. He worked as an investigative agent, was promoted and supervised field operations for 12 years and finished his last eight years in the unit as division commander. In the summer of 2013, Crandall accepted the position of chief deputy sheriff just prior to being elected sheriff.
During his time as sheriff, Crandall has implemented a number of partnerships with non-profit, charitable organizations that have benefited both the inmates and the communities. The inmates have picked vegetables for community organizations, painted vehicles, picked up trash and learned new skills taught by local organizations.
“I feel great about what we have accomplished here at the Sheriff’s Office in my first term as sheriff, and the lasting positive impact it will have on the agency and the communities we serve,” said Crandall. ”I could go on and on about that, but I am not running for office. It is sufficient for me to say that my senior leadership team and the mission focused employees of the Sheriff’s Office have much to be proud of and I will leave this office with a great sense of achievement.
“Over the next several months, as the candidates for sheriff have the spotlight shone on their public safety leadership experience, work ethic, fiscal responsibility and personal character, the details of our many accomplishments over these past few years will be among the important things that become well known,” he said.”
Crandall added that he owes a big thanks to his wife, Jane, and his children for their support during his career. He said Monday that he is considering “a number of options at this point, but he has not decided exactly what his next step will be at this point.”
What he does know at this point, however, is that he has decided to publicly endorse Chief Deputy Sheriff Shawn D. Gillen, 47, of Blaine as he runs for sheriff.
“I have known Shawn for 25 years and I believe he is uniquely qualified to fill this role,” he said.
