Contributed photo/Nate Bodenstab
ROTARY GUEST — Houlton Police Chief Joe McKenna, left, was the featured speaker at the Houlton Rotary Club Monday, Nov. 16. Chief McKenna spoke on some of the changes that have taken place in his department since his arrival in January. With Chief McKenna is Jane Torres, Rotary
HOULTON — On Monday, Nov. 16, Houlton Police Chief Joe McKenna addressed the Houlton Rotary Club. McKenna is a member of the club and he was invited to speak to the group about his position in Houlton.
Chief McKenna has initiated a few positive changes in the Houlton Police Department. The first is to improve the public image as police officers to the concept of public servants with the idea that these law enforcement officers are here to serve the community and to be helpful with solving problems.
The look of the force is changing too as new uniforms and caps and logo patches have transformed the department. The color of new police cruisers has also been changed from white to silver. Inside the police cars outdated radios did not allow communication between officers. He applied for and received a grant to replace the radios with equipment that enables the officers to communicate with each other.
Another goal that the chief has is to update the cruisers with laptop computers. This would allow the officers to remain in their cruisers to make their reports while monitoring traffic or doing other surveillance. Such equipment would keep the “public servants” out in the community and not in the office. Visibility is important for public safety.
The Houlton Police Department has good rapport with other local law enforcement agencies such as State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office. Training funds are limited so there is a county wide effort being organized to have trainings occur in local facilities, saving on travel and time.
Chief McKenna welcomes input from the community and encourages residents to call the station with any concerns. He feels such communication makes the HPD stronger. New strategies are being used to monitor and curtail meth labs. Apparently, the operation of creating and selling “meth” is an attractive economic solution for some folks’ livelihood. But when a police cruiser is parked in front of the suspected “meth” lab, business slows down. Also, the HPD is preparing to prevent the importation of heroin which is a gang-centered activity.
Chief McKenna is working to create a liaison with local clergy to work together in crisis situations.
