HOULTON, Maine — Looking to follow in his father’s footsteps, Darrell O. Crandall, Jr. has announced his candidacy for the office of Aroostook County Sheriff.
Crandall, who currently serves as deputy chief for the Sheriff’s Department, would succeed Sheriff James Madore, who has announced his plans to retire at the end of his term on Dec. 31.
Crandall’s father, Darrell Crandall Sr. was elected Aroostook County’s sheriff in 1965 and he served in that capacity until his retirement in 1983.
Crandall Jr. is in his 29th year with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, having started as a jail guard in the summer of 1985. Sheriff Edgar Wheeler selected Crandall as a patrol deputy the following year and he was promoted to sergeant in 1993. In 2005, Sheriff Madore promoted him again, to lieutenant.
He spent more than 20 years assigned to Maine Drug Enforcement Agecy; 12 years as a supervisor and eight as the division commander. While there, he was instrumental in creating MDEA’s drug lab response team, which he led for 14 years.
In 2007, Crandall developed a comprehensive training program on professional ethics that he has shared with hundreds of police and corrections officers in Maine. He also teaches classes on effective report writing, criminal investigations and constitutional law. He left MDEA in the fall of 2013 when Sheriff Madore offered him his current job as Chief Deputy Sheriff. In that role, he is responsible for leading more than 50 employees in the corrections, law enforcement and support services divisions.
“I have dedicated my entire adult life to public service and have worked hard to help improve the delivery of law enforcement and correctional services in Aroostook County,” he said. “While I am thankful to have gained perspective through my years of working around the state, I am happy to once again be focusing all of my efforts right here at home.”
Since assuming his duties as chief deputy, Crandall has worked with Sheriff Madore to reorganize the law enforcement unit, greatly enhancing patrol coverage throughout The County. He has overseen a partnership with state corrections officials that added more than 40 beds to the county jail’s capacity, reducing high prisoner transportation costs. Crandall has repeatedly engaged with the Board of Corrections, urging them to properly fund county jail operations.
Additionally, he has addressed the courts in an effort to reduce the burden their scheduling puts on the jail budget.
“I believe that those of us given the authority to spend the public’s money have a responsibility to do so wisely,” he said. “I also believe we have a responsibility to demand accountability from others who have a direct impact on our ability to carry out our mission efficiently.”
Crandall has also pursued increased communication with the public through the use of social media and other modern technology. He is a lifelong resident of Aroostook County who holds both corrections and law enforcement certifications from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. He also has extensive training and experience in law enforcement administration and leadership. He has been the recipient of many professional awards, including the Maine Sheriffs’ Association’s Manager of the Year award in 2013. Crandall and his family live in Houlton.
“I am applying for a job … no more, no less,” he said. “I look forward to the honor of serving the people of Aroostook County as their next sheriff.”
