This week Lincoln County has the dubious pleasure of losing not one but two long serving lawmen.
On June 2, 25-year veteran John Allen retires in Wiscasset and as of this writing, June 1, the ink is still drying on former Damariscotta Police Chief Steve Drake’s resignation.
We commend both and thank them for their service. Both deserved better than they received on their way out the door.
Particularly in his role as Wiscasset’s top cop, Lt. Allen displayed a propensity for putting his foot in it from time to time. In 2009, making the argument that Wiscasset needed another police officer, he said the town could not rely on the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for immediate backup, words Sheriff’s deputies who collectively spent many an hour supporting Wiscasset, took to heart
More recently he got into it with the board of selectmen while arguing for cruiser.
Such public missteps make it easy to criticize, but the thing is, it is always easy to criticize the top dog. It is much harder to get in there and actually do the job, and Allen did it as well as he could with the tools he was given.
No one can criticize Lt. Allen for his dedication to the town. Twenty-five years is a lot of life to give. As far as we know, Allen isn’t even getting a cake, much less a watch in his final days on the job.
In Damariscotta, we find it interesting the Damariscotta Selectmen have released a statement praising Chief Drake for his leadership in making Damariscotta one of the “most livable places in Maine during his eight years on the job.” Still, apparently, they are only too happy to accept his resignation.
He was a good leader, and no one in authority has a cross word to say in public, but for some reason, he was still on suspension for seven weeks.
It stinks. It stinks to high heaven. As with any top dog, Drake had his critics, and as with any top dog, some of that criticism was no doubt justified, but we would feel better about the town wishing Drake well if his departure didn’t feel so much like he was getting the bum’s rush out the door.
At any rate, thank you, gentlemen. For all you gave, you deserved better.
