Police chief receives award

    HOULTON — Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin was recently awarded the 2012 Patricia A. Bailey Public Safety Award.
    “I received notification by way of a letter addressed to me in November,” Asselin said. “I had no idea I was a finalist. I wasn’t even aware that someone had submitted my name for consideration. I am humbled and honored to receive it.”
    Bailey resided in Windsor with her parents, Terry and Barry Bailey and attended Erskine Academy, where she was an honor role student for four years. Patricia was the recipient of the Irene Jones Award for Community Service and was awarded a silver medal for the VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) competition in law enforcement at the Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta. Patricia’s passion was law enforcement and she maintained high honors in her law enforcement studies.
Butch Asselin
    “It is my understanding that Patricia was tragically killed on April 29, 1999 in an automobile accident while enroute to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy where she was in her 17th week as a state police cadet,” the chief said.
    On May 29, 1999, the 119th Maine Legislature and the Maine Department of Public Safety made Patricia a “Lady in Blue” honorary state trooper. The Maine and U.S. flags were flown over the state capital in her honor. Patricia’s mother was presented with the folded flags, two plaques, a troopers hat and the arm patches that Patricia would have worn on her uniform. A certificate was also presented to Patricia’s mother that was signed by Gov. Angus King.
    Asselin is the 14th recipient of the award. Former Houlton native and Maine State Police Colonel Malcolm T. Dow was the first recipient of the coveted award. In his name, $1,000 will be donated to the Patricia A. Bailey Scholarship Fund at Erskine Academy.
    The wording on the plaque states: “Patricia A. Bailey 2012 Public Safety Award Presented to Chief of Police Butch Asselin of the Houlton Police Department for his outstanding services and unselfish dedication in law enforcement to the people of the Great State of Maine.”