Chad Andrews, a Boothbay Harbor native and long-time patrol officer in Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta, is, after six months as acting chief, Damariscotta’s chief of police.
The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen appointed Andrews to the position Sept. 28.
Andrews met repeatedly with the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen in the months leading up to last week’s appointment. He didn’t move into the chief’s office until signing his contract – a sign of respect for former Police Chief Steve Drake, he said.
His contract requires a period of “probation” to continue through June of next year. If, at that time, the town manager determines Andrews “has successfully completed the probationary period,” he’ll receive a two-year extension.
Andrews attended Southern Maine Technical College where he completed an associate’s degree in law enforcement, working private security gigs in Portland. The young outdoorsman, a lover of fishing and hunting, initially set his sights on a career as a game warden.
Instead, Andrews returned home and joined the Boothbay Harbor Police Department as a reserve officer. Andrews clearly remembers late Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Floyd McDunnah’s reluctance to hire a 21-year-old officer and, later, earning the chief’s confidence.
“It was the proudest moment of my life,” Andrews said. McDunnah, who died last June, “was like a father to all of us.”
Andrews toiled as a reserve for about two years until he was hired as a full-time patrol officer. After nearly a decade at the department, Andrews took a brief hiatus from law enforcement, working as a sternman for his lobsterman brother.
“I didn’t realize how much I would miss it,” Andrews said.
Eventually, Andrews contacted then-Damariscotta Police Chief Todd Brackett. Andrews had worked with Brackett during the latter’s days as a corporal at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and Brackett quickly offered him a job.
Later, Andrews earned a promotion to sergeant.
Andrews describes himself as “a road officer” throughout most of his career, rather than a detective or administrator. He’s broken up his share of barfights in Boothbay Harbor and pursued fleeing suspects in high-speed chases. He estimates he’s trained about 20 full-time officers.
In 2008, he was the first officer on the scene of an early morning armed robbery at Dunkin’ Donuts. His work helped lead to a same-day arrest and eventual conviction.
Last year, Andrews responded to a report from an elderly woman that her husband was missing. Andrews later found the man in the woods, where he’d fallen and become pinned between two trees.
The rescue of the elderly gentleman might not be glamorous police work, but it’s satisfying. “With this many years on the job, arresting people isn’t really the thrill,” Andrews said.
Before his appointment to the position of acting chief in April, Andrews didn’t expect to move into a position as chief.
The appointment followed the town’s highly controversial decision to suspend Drake.
Andrews served under Drake for eight years. Following Drake’s suspension, Andrews, along with the entire staff of the police department, signed a letter to the editor of The Lincoln County News expressing unwavering support for Drake.
“He was a great boss,” Andrews said. “He was a mentor to all of us.”
Drake resigned May 31. He would later endorse Andrews in an interview with The Lincoln County News, saying he trained his sergeant to take his place.
“When you lose the best investigator in the state, you feel uneasy,” Andrews said, referring to his predecessor, a former assistant director of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.
Although he improved under Drake’s tutelage, “I’m not half the investigator [Drake] is,” Andrews said.
Andrews, as acting chief, placed a renewed focus on prevention. He continues to rely on his experienced, hardworking staff and coordinates cooperative efforts with other law enforcement agencies.
Andrews’ former boss, now-Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett, and his peers, the chiefs of municipal departments countywide, have offered assistance and support.
“I surround myself with very professional, knowledgeable people that are willing to help me,” Andrews said.
By all accounts, Andrews ran the department smoothly in the last six months. He credits his officers and department administrative assistant Jodi Prior for easing the transition.
He’s already busy instituting a series of small, yet significant, changes. In the past, Damariscotta officers had the option to choose a shift (mornings, evenings, overnight) and work it indefinitely. “Everybody will rotate shifts” under Andrews, partly because he wants the public to get to know all his officers.
Chief Andrews is also increasing school zone patrols and requiring bicycle and foot patrols – again, partly to increase the department’s visibility. “The foot patrols have been very well received,” he said.
Andrews maintains a good working relationship with Miles Memorial Hospital, where his wife is a respiratory therapist. He plans to meet with and build relationships with other community organizations, to make it clear to the public that the department is available to help.
The department recently installed signs, courtesy of the Boothbay Harbor Police Department, on Bristol Road and Church Street to gauge the speed of passing vehicles.
The department is receiving “great feedback” on the signs, Andrews said.
Andrews presented a four-page “Plan for Assumption of Command” to the selectmen last month. The plan addresses budget, management and personnel issues and community relations, among other things.
The chief outlines his plan to work with the county to establish a formal agreement regarding the provision of “specific law enforcement services… paid for by county taxes,” a sticking point in recent budget negotiations.
The plan targets potential savings through the pursuit of grants and the use of reserve officers to decrease overtime. A proposal to “explore acquisition” of an SUV for inclement weather and otherwise inaccessible areas might prove a tough sell, a challenge Andrews is prepared to meet.
Outside work, Andrews enjoys spending time with his three children, ages 13, 8 and 3, playing games or just hanging out. He doesn’t fish or hunt like he used to. He enjoys weightlifting.
He also genuinely enjoys his work. “I like protecting people. I like justice. I hate to see anybody victimized,” Andrews said. “I don’t like people to be afraid in their daily lives – to go places, to do anything.”
