Call-up stalls Belfast’s drug-probe plan

BELFAST – The call to arms for a full-time police officer who is a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force has put the city’s plans to expand its drug investigations on hold.

And the city isn’t alone.

Just last week, Maine State Police in Washington and Hancock counties lost a third trooper to military activation, forcing the commander to refigure patrol shifts Down East.

On Tuesday, Belfast Police Chief Allen Weaver said the call to duty of Patrolman Eric Kelly would have left his department shorthanded if it had not been for a recent federal grant.

Kelly, a chief petty officer in the reserve, was called to active duty Friday. He is expected to ship out to the Middle East later this week.

The city was recently awarded a $75,000 Community Oriented Police Service grant to hire an additional officer. Under the plan, the new officer, Patrolman Ron Young, was to handle a regular beat while the department promoted an officer to work with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency on investigations.

Kelly’s loss has put that plan on the back burner.

“I’m sliding Ron Young into Eric’s shift, as it will be easier for him to become acclimated to the department working days,” Weaver said. “Had we not already hired Ron under the grant, we’d be looking at covering all of Eric’s shift, primarily through overtime.”

Weaver said the department’s payroll would be reduced because Kelly receives a higher rate of pay than Young.

On Feb. 10, the commander of Maine State Police Troop J in East Machias said three of his 15 troopers are gone for at least a year. So he is planning to talk with his supervisors about hiring temporary help.

A trooper from Machiasport has reported to his Army National Guard unit, and troopers from Calais and Surry were called to active duty in the Marine Corps Reserve in mid-January.

In Belfast, Weaver said under federal law his department is required to retain Kelly’s position in its budget for five years.

Kelly received a two-year call to active duty. When he was called to duty in the Gulf War in 1991, he was away from the department for about 11 months.

Weaver said he has recommended the city postpone filing for salary reimbursement under the COPS grant program until Kelly returns. He said the program allows for extensions.

“I can’t see burning up the grant if we can’t follow through with what the grant was intended for, which is to enter a partnership with MDEA,” Weaver said. “I feel we can justify an extension and start the clock on the grant when Eric comes back.”