March 28, 2024
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Millinocket to have acting police chief

MILLINOCKET – Sgt. Donald Bolduc will take over in April as acting chief for the town’s eight-officer police department.

Last week, Town Manager Gene Conlogue appointed Bolduc to fill the vacancy that will be left by Chief Carlton Jones, who will resign at the end of next month. Jones will be on vacation for the month of April, so Bolduc will serve as acting chief from April 1 until either May 1 or when town officials make a decision about whether to pursue the recently proposed regional police department, Conlogue said.

If a regional department were developed, Bolduc would resume his current rank of sergeant, Conlogue said. If nothing transpires with the regional proposal, Bolduc will become the town’s permanent chief, Conlogue said.

After 121/2 years as a full-time officer in the department, Bolduc said he’s excited about the recent promotion. He added that he began preparing for the job about 41/2 years ago when he found out Jones would likely retire this year. Bolduc also served as interim chief for six weeks last summer when Jones was having back surgery.

“I’m up for the challenge and looking forward to the opportunity,” Bolduc said Wednesday of the new position.

A 1982 Stearns High School graduate, Bolduc earned an associate degree in legal technology from University College in Bangor before serving a brief stint as a corrections officer at Penobscot County Jail. While working as a security guard at Great Northern Paper Inc.’s mills, Bolduc became a reserve dispatcher and officer for the town’s police department.

Bolduc became a full-time patrolman in 1991 and has been serving for the last five years as the department’s sergeant.

While the area has seen many changes in the population and local economy, the department remains quite busy, Bolduc said, adding that he’s concerned about the loss of the ninth officer position, which was cut from last year’s budget.

Drug use and drug-related crimes, such as burglaries, also are of primary concern, Bolduc said.

“The people who are using drugs are trying to get the quick cash,” Bolduc said. “I think that’s where the focus needs to be.”


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