8355-R5_ML&P_BuxtonAnnualReport_2021-2022_Web

Buxton Police Department Annual Report January 2022 – December 2022 Interim Chief Kevin R. Collins

2022 was a year of excitement for the Town of Buxton, as well as a year of advancement for the police department. As the town has been growing in the last few years, the police department has had the added benefit of adjusting our roster numbers. We added four new hires to our dispatch center, as well as three new patrol officers, and an animal control officer. This includes Dispatcher Jeremy Gagne, Dispatcher Jacob Wells, Dispatcher Michaela Wilhite, Dispatcher Matthew Dahms, Officer Brian Donahue, Officer Jason Wagner, Officer Joseph Demers, and Animal Control Officer Kristin Russell-Perkins. We were also very fortunate to hire a retired officer out of the Sanford Police Department. He comes to us with 25 years of experience, vastly ranging from Criminal Investigation Division, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, a former K9 Officer, and was a former member of the Southern Maine Special Response Team. Detective Paul Shaw is a great asset to the Police Department and is thrilled to serve the Town of Buxton. In addition to new hires, two officers that had previously completed their pre-service Law Enforcement training were sent to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for an 18-week intensive training program. This program teaches newly hired officers the detailed cognitive and physical skills required for this profession. On Friday May 20 th , 2022, Officer Kelsey Jacobs from the Buxton Police Department, graduated from the 41 st Basic Law Enforcement Training Program (BLETP) as the first ever female Class President, elected by her peers. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Officer Jacobs. Our department is extremely proud of her hard work and dedication to her training, and we are excited to see her applied knowledge on future calls. Furthermore, Officer Nicholas LaRiviere was sent to the 42 nd Basic Law Enforcement Training Program (BLETP) and graduated on Friday December 16 th, 2022. With his graduation, our department will be fully operational with 10 sworn officers. With our ever growing community, the Buxton Police Department is looking forward to expanding employment numbers in the coming years, to help assist with the rising needs of the residents of the Town of Buxton. Another added benefit that this year brought to our department was the start of the Maine Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (MLEAP). This is a process where agencies in the State of Maine demonstrate their compliance with Maine Law Enforcements’ most current standards and best practices. This involves an in-depth look at all the department’s policies and procedures, to ensure they meet the best practices in law enforcement to date. This process is still ongoing, as it is a very in-depth process, and the public will be updated as soon as it reaches completion.

New Badge for the newly hired, Detective Paul Shaw .

Patrol Officer Kelsey Jacobs graduated the 41 st BLETP May 20 th , 2022, as the first female Class President

Patrol Officer Nicholas LaRiviere graduated the 42 nd BLETP on December 16 th , 2022

The year concluded with some equipment upgrades for our officers. We received new and improved Tasers called the Taser 7’s. We are also in the end-stage process of implementing an Axon Body 3 Camera system, with additional Fleet cruiser camera attachments to follow, shortly thereafter. These three equipment upgrades are all connected together through the well-known company, Axon, where they all link together to enhance the abilities, these devices provide. Linking them together gives officers a more fluid interrelation for case work and has improved the process of retention and access for

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