Knox County Sheriff’s Office Concerned With Driving Drug Impaired

Rockland, Maine - According to Knox County Sheriff's Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office concerned with recent increase in drug-impaired driving incidents.

The Sheriff’s Office released information about safety checkpoints throughout Knox County only a week ago and the Office’s Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) have conducted nearly as many drug evaluations. Since August 1, 2016, Sergeant Patrick Polky and Deputy John Hansen, the Office’s DREs, have been called upon in five different impaired driving incidents.

Sheriff’s Office incidents for the month of August shows 5 Operating Under the Influence (OUI)

Knox County Sheriff’s Office Announce First Annual Citizen’s Police Academy

Rockland, Maine - Sheriff Donna Dennison and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office are pleased to announce the offering of its First Annual, Citizen’s Police Academy. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has found that education has been most effective in gaining understanding and support from the community. Through implementation of the Citizen’s Police Academy; the Knox County Sheriff’s Office can offer the citizens of Knox County new insights into how police, corrections officers and dispatchers perform their duties, as well as how these departments serve the community.

     The Citizen Police Academy is an eight-week program where citizens from the community attend

Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Others Announce First Annual Guns n’ Hoses Charity Softball Game

Rockland, Maine - The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #700 and the Cushing Fire Department would like to announce the First Annual Guns n’ Hoses Charity Softball Game for the Knox County DARE Program. The game will be held at the Rockland Elks Field on Rankin Street in Rockland on September 5, 2015, at 4:00 P.M. This game is free to all. Donations will be accepted.

The Knox County DARE program is in Washington, Appleton, Union, Hope, Warren, Thomaston, Saint George, Friendship and Owls Head Schools. As part of the ten week program, students who successfully graduate have a culmination event at a beach which consists of a BBQ and prizes for DARE participation. Students also receive prizes for writing the best essay in their class and one student receives a prize for writing the best essay in all of Knox County. This event is not possible without generous donations from the community. This softball game is being held with the hopes of offsetting costs associated with the DARE program.

Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers from Knox County will battle it out on the field to determine who will win the inaugural event. Prior to, and after the game, children can take a tour of a police car and/or fire truck and the whole family can watch a friendly, but competitive game of softball. Seating is limited, but the lawn is not. Bring a chair or a blanket to sit and enjoy the game. Concessions will be available.

Jerrad Dinsmore of the Cushing Fire Department is the organizer of the event. If for some reason you cannot make it out to the game, but would like to donate, contact Jerrad Dinsmore at the Cushing Fire Department 38 Cross Road in Cushing 04563, or at 207-691-5555.

Knox County Sheriff Deputies Recognized

Chief Deputy Tim Carroll

Portland, Maine - Last week at the annual Maine Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) Conference in Portland, two Knox County Deputies were recognized by the MSA for their efforts over the past year.

On Thursday, March 19th at the annual banquet, Detective Dwight Burtis was an “Honorable Mention” of the annual “Deputy of the Year Award,” by MSA.  Det. Burtis’ primary duties as Detective for the agency his is work on the agency’s efforts in curbing Domestic Violence.  Det. Burtis was vitally important in the pursuing, arresting, and sentencing of a man who has now been convicted for Interstate Stalking and sentenced to federal prison for 46 months plus three years supervised release.  The suspect was quoted as to wanting to “start the worst blood bath in America,” and killing members of the victim’s family from here to California.  Det. Burtis worked vigorously with other local and out of state agencies to hold the man responsible and assure the safety of all.

Sheriff Dennison nominated Chief Deputy Tim Carroll who was awarded the MSA “Manager of the Year.”  The award is presented to a member of management in a Sheriff’s Office “in recognition of exemplary management skills and many other superior contributions to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and to the law enforcement profession.”  Chief Deputy Carroll was recognized for his professional efforts within the agency as well as Chair of the MSA’s Chief Deputy Committee to assist in promoting and supporting the MSA and his efforts as a volunteer in the community as Past President of Maine Lobster Festival and 20 years as a youth coach of various sports in the area promoting hard work, dedication, and good sportsmanship.

C/D Tim Carroll, Deptuty Arthur Smith,
Sheriff Donna Dennison

Also, Deputy Arthur Smith was recently recognized at the Sheriff’s Office as the 2014 Deputy of the Year for Knox County.  Deputy Smith always represents himself as a true professional and reinforces those efforts representing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy as a lead instructor to all law enforcement officers statewide.   Deputy Smith donates many hours of his own time instructing others on OUI enforcement and Methods of Arrest, Restraint, and Control at the academy.

Detective Dwight Burtis

Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Announce The 2014 “Buckle Up – No Excuses!” Education and Enforcement Campaign

ROCKLAND, Maine - The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (MeBHS) is pleased to announce the 2014 “Buckle Up – No Excuses!” Education and Enforcement Campaign.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is going to participate in this two-week long campaign that will run from May 19th to June 1st, 2014 in conjunction with the national Click It or Ticket program.  The grant, funded thru MeBHS, pays for dedicated overtime to patrol deputies for occupant protection education and seat belt high visibility enforcement during this period.  This law applies to not only operators, but passengers as well.
The fine for a first offense seatbelt violation is $70.00.

Submitted by,
Chief Deputy Tim Carroll