Sheriff’s deputies to share space in Mars Hill
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MARS HILL — Officials from Mars Hill and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office have reached an agreement for sheriff’s deputies to utilize space at the town office, both day and night, rather than have to wait until they get back to headquarters in Houlton.
Photo courtesy of ACSO
DEPUTIES will now have access to space at the Mars Hill Town Office to do paperwork, make phone calls and more, following an agreement between town officials and the ACSO. Pictured from left are Interim Town Manager Ray Mersereau and Chief Deputy Sheriff Darrell Crandall. 
“Deputy sheriffs patrolling the area will be using the town office as a base of operations for preparing reports, making phone calls and other administrative functions. Deputies will be sharing an area that is also used by the part-time code enforcement officer,” said Darrell Crandall, chief deputy sheriff with the ACSO.
Late last year Interim Town Manager Ray Mersereau took the idea to the Mars Hill Town Council, with councilors approving the idea.
“Similar arrangements are in place in municipal and state buildings around the county, so deputy sheriffs have administrative workspace, no matter where they are. This allows deputies to remain in their patrol areas while getting all of their work done at the same time,” Crandall said.
Crandall said having a presence in communities like Mars Hill, that don’t have their own police force, serves as a crime deterrent.
“Parking our patrol cars conspicuously at these locations also lets people know we’re around if they need us,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office and the State Police provide law enforcement coverage for people living in towns without an organized police department.
“In Aroostook County, that represents nearly 25,000 people,” said Crandall.
Mersereau said having law enforcement officers visibly present on Main Street only helps to enhance the community.
“It’s a crime deterrent. The Sheriff’s Office and State Police do a lot for us. This is just a small thing we can do for them — providing them a place to go in and get warm, use our facilities, including access to the Internet, fax and other office amenities,” said Mersereau.
He said this will save deputies from having to postpone paperwork or having to travel all the way back to headquarters in Houlton.
“They can do it here instead. This serves as a pit stop while they’re out on patrol. If a deputy is working in the Westfield or Easton area, stopping to do paperwork here is much closer than having to travel all the way to Houlton,” Mersereau said.
Mersereau said the Town Council “looked at this as an opportunity to assist the sheriff’s department.”
“Councilors agreed it was a good thing for the town. They (deputies) help us and we help them,” he said.
Deputies will share a space also used for general assistance and code enforcement.
“It’s the room behind the clerk’s counter. It’s set up with a desk and other office equipment. They’ll have more room to spread out and do paperwork, rather than be cramped in a cruiser trying to use their laptops there. It’ll be especially nice for them during the colder months,” Mersereau said.
The town manager sees many benefits of having a police presence in town.
“It helps slow traffic in town, seeing a cruiser parked outside the town office. It reduces truancy on Main Street and will serve as a deterrent for other criminal activity in town,” he said.
“It’s a win-win situation. It helps deputies and helps us. The cost is nothing to speak of and it’s a great benefit to the community,” said Mersereau.
To report a crime or suspicious activity, call the ACSO at 800-432-7842 or go to their MyPD smartphone application for iPhone and Android. In emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
