A state police lieutenant who heads the department’s internal affairs division has been promoted to major and tapped to head the support services division.

Craig A. Poulin, who has served in the department since 1978, succeeds Maj. Charles N. Love of Winthrop at the Augusta state police headquarters. Love retired recently after 32 years of service to the state police.

In his new capacity, Poulin will oversee a division that includes the state crime lab, communications, records management, training and the state police fleet.

Poulin patrolled Kennebec County before being assigned to the Executive Protection Division in charge of guarding the governor, serving during both the Brennan and McKernan administrations. He was promoted to sergeant in 1992 and then to lieutenant five years later.

Love joined the state police in 1970 assigned to patrol the Hartland area. But it was with the criminal investigation division that he spent much of his career, looking into suspicious deaths and homicides. He was promoted to sergeant in 1981, lieutenant five years later and as captain in charge of the CID in 1990. Since 1996 he has held the rank of major, overseeing the criminal investigation division and the eight field troops within the department.

Love has now joined the Maine Attorney General’s Office as an investigator.

“Chick Love has been a quiet, determined investigator and administrator whose experience and knowledge have been great assets to the state police,” said Col. Michael R. Sperry, chief of the state police. As for his replacement, Sperry said, “I am pleased that Craig Poulin has accepted my offer to join my command staff at headquarters and look forward to his advice and counsel.”