The promotion of Bangor Police Lt. Don Winslow, deputy chief for six years, to replace retiring Chief Randy Harriman was good news indeed for the city. The 19-year veteran brings local experience and a sharp perspective to a job that is rarely easy.

This isn’t just a case of hometown-boy-makes-good (all right, he’s from Old Town). The city chose an officer for whom community policing seems to come naturally. As chief, Lt. Winslow is likely to add to his reputation as a caring, effective officer. His work addressing issues such as domestic violence and conflicts with teens has made an important difference in this city.

The group that chose Mr. Winslow — City Manager Ed Barrett, Assistant City Manager Robert Farrar, Fire Chief Jeff Cammack and Councilor Gerry Palmer — could have looked outside the region to find a qualified candidate. They probably could have found someone with more big-city experience. They deserve credit for appreciating the talents and skills that reside within Bangor’s own department and entrusting its officers with greater responsibility. The fact that two of the three finalists for the job — including Bangor Lt. Robert Welch — were local speaks extremely well of the department.

The new chief is going to be busy. The department, for instance, is planning to place an officer in each of the middle schools this year, as it has at the high school and the Job Corps site. Done well, that should give officers a chance to know young people better and vice versa. It also will be working on consolidating the police and fire dispatch; continuing computer efforts in patrol vehicles and computer literacy in the department; and continuing to work on domestic-violence issues.

When he was interviewed for the position, Lt. Winslow mentioned traffic and speeding as an area of enforcement that might require improvement. It needs more than that. Bangor needs a comprehensive plan for reducing the alarming number of speeders, particularly in neighborhoods, who have created a perilous situation for children, bicyclists, pedestrians and anyone who would like to cross the street to talk with a neighbor.

Issuing speeding tickets is hardly glamorous work, but as Lt. Winslow knows, making the streets safe by restricting motorists to sane speeds is a big part of keeping the community together.

Chances are excellent that, as chief, he will find a solution to this problem.