ST. JOHN VALLEY, Maine — When the Maine State Police offered Trooper Nathan Desrosier an assignment with their Aroostook County-based Field Troop F, the Madawaska native immediately accepted the opportunity to serve and protect residents in the area where he grew up.
Desrosier, age 23, recently completed 10 weeks of specialized training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro, qualifying him for a position as a state trooper.
“Once they gave me the option to come back up here, I jumped on it. I love the area,” Desrosier said.
Trooper Desrosier and his brother Adam were raised in Madawaska by their parents, Walter and Helen Desrosier. Trooper Desrosier graduated from Madawaska High School in 2011 and attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent where he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in rural public safety.
It was in high school that Trooper Desrosier said he first discovered he wanted to become a law enforcement officer. His cousin, Officer Matthew Desrosier, works for the Madawaska Police Department and took him on ride-alongs. “I enjoyed it. I figured this is what I wanted to do,” Trooper Desrosier said. “I figured I’d love this job.”
Along the way, Trooper Desrosier attended an 18-week course at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and served as a reserve officer for both the Madawaska and the Fort Kent police departments before attending the specialized session for future troopers.
He said he most enjoyed the community policing aspect of these positions, especially stopping in at local coffee shops to interact with people. “It’s a fun job. I guess it’s not really work to me. I just enjoy it,” he said.
During his off time, he also enjoys some very St. John Valley-esque hobbies. “If I’m not working, I’m fishing and hunting,” he shared.
He and longtime girlfriend Lindsey Lavoie recently purchased a house in Madawaska. They have a lab/cattle dog mix named Bella that’s learning to retrieve waterfowl and moose antlers … with mixed results, according to Desrosier.
The new Maine State Trooper described his personality as outgoing. “I’m the kind of person who is always trying to help people out.”
He added that he looks forward to serving and protecting the residents of The Valley as a member of Field Troop F. “The people of the St. John Valley are really good people,” he said.
