Brooks sworn in as new Troop F commander

HOULTON, Maine — The Maine State Police Troop F barracks has a new commanding officer following Thursday afternoon’s swearing in ceremony of Lt. Mark Brooks. Brooks takes over for Lt. Darrell Ouellette who retired earlier this year.
    Law enforcement officials from throughout Aroostook County gathered at the Troop F barracks for Thursday’s ceremony. Five Aroostook County police chiefs — Butch Asselin (Houlton); Michael Gahagan (Caribou); Ronald Pelletier (Madawaska); Douglas Conroy (Washburn); and Naldo Gagnon (Presque Isle) — along with Aroostook County Sheriff James Madore were in attendance at the ceremony. Numerous other law enforcement officials and members of Troop F were also at the event.
“I would like to thank everyone for being here,” said Col. Patrick Fleming of the state police. “It’s nice to see all of the [police] chief’s here. I know they were scheduled to be somewhere else today, but they took the time to move their meeting so they could attend. This is a great show of support for both Mark and the state police.”
Speaking before a packed conference room, Brooks introduced those family members in attendance for the ceremony, including his wife Sarah and daughters Julia and Hope.
“I appreciate all of my friends and family being here, it means a lot to me,” Brooks said.
Brooks is a 16-year veteran of the state police, joining the department in 1994. He most recently was a patrol sergeant with Troop E in Orono. He was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and also has served as a training sergeant at the Criminal Justice Academy and a detective with the criminal division. In addition to his state police rank of lieutenant, Brooks is also is a Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve and is an Iraqi war veteran.
Fleming had Brooks recite the “Code of Ethics” in Law Enforcement.
“What this does is reaffirms their belief in the code and it reaffirms it for the rest of us too,” Fleming said.
“As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community,” Brooks read. “[It is] to safeguard lives and property and to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder and to respect the Constitutional rights of all to liberty, quality and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or my agency.
“I will maintain courage and calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule. I will develop self-restraint and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. I will be exemplary of obeying the laws and regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confident nature that is confided to me in my official capacity shall be kept ever secret, unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
“I will never act viciously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime, and with a relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear of favor, malice or ill will. Never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service.
“I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice. I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level or knowledge and competence. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession, law enforcement.”
Brooks and his family currently reside in Hartland, but will be relocating to Aroostook County in the near future.