A denied time-off request resulted in the resignation of Wiscasset’s school resource officer, a position the police chief fought hard to get and one that was narrowly approved at Wiscasset’s annual town meeting June 9.
Perry Hatch submitted a letter of resignation to the Wiscasset Police Department May 26. It was accepted with regret by Wiscasset selectmen Tuesday, June 16.
Wiscasset’s school resource officer program will continue and the hiring process to fill the position will begin soon, Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline said. “My goal and vision for the program has not changed in any shape or form,” Cline said. “It will still be an integral part of the school system.”
For over 20 years, Hatch has spent October hunting in the Rocky Mountains. It is an opportunity to connect with his brothers scattered throughout the United States and enjoy a hard to obtain hunting license, Hatch said.
“This is part of who I am,” he said. “I may not be able to climb up a mountain out west next year and my brothers are older than I am.”
According to Cline, Hatch was clear when he accepted a position at the department approximately four years ago he would request time off in October. The request was still granted when Hatch assumed the school resource officer position in 2014, but not without controversy.
According to Cline, community members expressed concern the school resource officer was unavailable for an extended period of time during the school year. Due to the feedback, Cline informed Hatch he could not support another request for time off in October.
The request was officially denied by Town Manager Marian Anderson and Hatch subsequently submitted his resignation. Hatch will serve with the Wiscasset Police Department until Aug. 4 to enable ample opportunity for the position to be filled, Hatch said in his resignation letter.
“If there was a way to keep him I would,” Cline said. “Losing Perry is going to be a huge loss. He is a stellar guy and he did a bang up job as school resource officer.”
The Wiscasset school resource officer position was almost eliminated when selectmen voted to remove it from the 2015 annual town meeting warrant, a decision later reversed. Voters approved the $47,400 appropriation for the position in 2015-2016 by a margin of two votes.
According to Hatch, the controversy played no part in his resignation. “I strongly believe in this program,” Hatch said. “That [the vote] just proves that there’s a lot more work that needs to be done educating the public about it.”
Both Hatch and Cline emphasized the importance of the school resource officer position and spoke of the positive impact it has had on the school and larger community. “This breaks my heart, but you have to do what you have to do,” Hatch said.
“I hope they find someone that can do it 10 times better than I did and build a lasting relationship with these kids, because they need it,” he said.
Cline said he is currently exploring options to the fill the position. In its second year, the school resource officer program still intends to provide educational courses on constitutional law, law enforcement, and other topics for students, Cline said.
“Perry is going to be missed as a member of the department,” Cline said. “We wish him well on his second retirement.”
“For better or for worse, my kids are now going to have a full-time dad and my wife is going to get a full-time husband,” Hatch said.
