Gagnon honored as Chief of the Year

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Beginning as an officer and known to many as a gentleman, father and husband, Chief Naldo Gagnon of the Presque Isle Police Department can now add Chief of the Year to his string of titles.
    The title is bestowed through a nomination process and is usually announced during the annual Maine Chief of Police Association’s winter meeting. It was at this year’s meeting, held downstate Feb. 7-9, that Gagnon received the award.
“It came as a total surprise. I had no idea I’d been nominated,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon said no one had been nominated last year, so when he hadn’t heard of a nominee this year, he didn’t think much more about it.
“Last year there was no recipient. The award is given on a nomination basis. I just thought perhaps nobody had been selected this year,” he said.
But that wasn’t the case. Sheriff James Madore, of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, had nominated Gagnon. In fact, everyone at the PIPD was aware of it except the chief himself.
“I had no clue they (Madore and members of the PIPD) were researching my background. They were very secretive,” said Gagnon.
Sgts. Laurie Kelly and Mark Barnes had made the trip to the event with Gagnon and neither gave any indication something was planned.
“I didn’t begin to suspect anything until my wife, sons and Sgt. Erickson showed up. My wife, Susan, teaches and can’t usually get the time off. It’s not unusual for my sons to come with me – gives us some father-son time together – but when they arrived with ties and dress shirts, I suspected something,” said Gagnon. “And then Eric turned up. That made me wonder.”
Gagnon assumed it might have something to do with his recent birthday.
“I turned 50 while out of town recently and thought they might be in on a practical joke,” continued Gagnon.
But this award was definitely no joke.
Gagnon began his career as an officer with the Limestone Police Department in 1978 and attended the Maine Criminal Justice Academy while employed with the LPD, before taking a position with the PIPD in August of 1979 where he was promoted to sergeant in 1990 and then deputy chief in 1993, becoming chief in 1996. A graduate of the 205th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., Gagnon has given much of his life to making the communities he’s called home a safe place for all.
The award didn’t go unnoticed by his fellow city employees.
“This is great recognition to a deserving individual,” said City Manager Tom Stevens.
City Councilor Ron McPherson expressed his congratulations as well.
“This is a high honor for Naldo, his family and the citizens of Presque Isle. He’s done a great job for us,” said McPherson.
“You make us proud to be your colleagues,” added Sonja Plummer-Morgan, director of the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library.
Councilor Ed Nickerson also acknowledged Gagnon’s achievement.
“Congratulations go out to one of Presque Isle’s finest,” said Nickerson.
As far as anyone can remember, this is the first time the award has gone to the chief of the PIPD.
“I believe I may be the first – at least in recent years – to receive the award,” said Gagnon, who served as president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association from 2002 to 2003.
Gagnon said he was clueless this year as he sat and listened to other award recipients being named.
“The awards banquet usually honors officers who’ve been in gun or knife fights or perhaps helped an individual get out of a burning building. Citizens are honored as well,” said Gagnon. “Even when they began reading and I realized it was about me, I just thought it was for some other award – not for Chief of the Year.”
The president of the MCPA, Chief Michael Emmons, and chairman of the Awards Committee, Chief Richard A. Pickett of the Dixfield Police Department, recognized Gagnon’s achievements in a joint statement.
“Clearly you (Gagnon) have and continue to contribute greatly to the Maine Chief’s of Police Association and as a very respected and truly dedicated member of the Association you are truly deserving of the Chief of the Year Award,” stated Emmons and Pickett.
Gagnon still doesn’t understand what makes him worthy of such an honor.
“I don’t know why they chose me,” said Gagnon. “I’ve definitely been humbled by the experience.”