FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — In a year that has brought about the former chief’s resignation and a shortage in officers, newly hired Fort Fairfield Police Chief Matthew Cummings wants to lead the department toward stronger community service.
A native of Van Buren, Cummings began his duties on Aug. 9 and has since focused much of his efforts on recruiting officers. Cummings is currently the only full-time officer at the station but has recently hired three part-time officers and is reviewing application materials for three full-time positions.
Like other chiefs in Aroostook County, Cummings said that the often negative public view of police officers and requirements for those entering the field have been playing a role in the workforce shortage.
Small police departments such as those in Fort Kent and Fort Fairfield have been on the verge of closing due to a lack of officers. The county-wide shortage played a role in Van Buren closing its police department in 2020.
“The culture surrounding law enforcement doesn’t help and the standards are pretty stringent,” Cummings said. “Officers have to pass a physical agility test, a polygraph exam and a background check.”
To combat the issue, the police department in Fort Fairfield is focused on touting wages and benefits, including family health insurance and enrollment in the Maine State Retirement System. Cummings also wants to emphasize to new officers the benefits of serving a small community.
Despite a recent lawsuit and the unclear departure of former police chief Shawn Newell, Cummings said that he has not seen a lack of support for or mistrust of the police department within the community.
“People call us a lot. They still wave at us and that’s a good thing,” Cummings said.
During his tenure, Cummings would like to help officers connect with students in the local school system. Whether it’s through classroom and lunch visits, job and career fairs or safety training, he wants youths to understand the role of law enforcement and trust the officers they see in their community.
Cummings knows firsthand the positive impact that local police can have on young aspiring police officers. When he was 19 and working at a Van Buren gas station, he received a visit from Michael Bresett, the town’s police chief at the time, that brought him into the world of policing.
“He walked into Dead River and asked if I was interested in working part time as a police officer. He put me through training and I worked for Van Buren and Madawaska,” Cummings said. “I haven’t looked back since then.”
Prior to becoming Fort Fairfield’s chief, Cummings was a patrol supervisor for the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a patrol officer in Fort Fairfield shortly after moving to the town in 2009. He and his wife reside there today with their four children.
Cummings said that the chance to serve in an administrative role and help his community motivated him to apply for the position of police chief. He considers respect, integrity, community trust and transparency to be crucial to his new role.
“Being out there in the community and building trust is the key to any police department being successful,” Cummings said. “It’s all about listening to people and problem solving.”
