Old Town police officer honored for her work

AUGUSTA – Police work runs in her blood, and although she got a later start at her career than most, Old Town Police Officer Debbie Holmes has had a profound impact on the community and state.

Gov. John Baldacci honored Holmes on Wednesday at the Blaine House for her efforts that earned her the Robert Trojanowicz award she recently received from the New England Community-Police Partnership for her work in community policing.

“I just want to thank you for doing what you do,” Baldacci said Wednesday during a Blaine House reception. “You make Maine a special place.”

The New England Community-Police Partnership, which gives the prestigious Trojanowicz award, is a regional police organization that promotes the implementation of community policing strategies.

Holmes was a stay-at-home mom until the youngest of her three children started school. After the home she shared with husband Michael Holmes – also known as “Mr. Debbie Holmes” – flooded in the late 1980s, Debbie Holmes said she was forced to give up her at-home job of baby-sitting children because of damage to the house and looked for work elsewhere.”I always thought I would be there,” Holmes said. “I love working with kids.”

When an emergency services dispatcher job became available in Old Town, Holmes took the job, resuurecting the police life she had known growing up, she said. Her dad, Leonard Wescott of South Paris, was a Maine State Police trooper.

Four years later, in 1991, she joined the Old Town Police Department.

“She’s a critical part of the department, and she’s an example to other officers,” Old Town Police Chief Don O’Halloran said Wednesday.

“A lot of my ideas have come from my own family stuff,” Holmes said.

When designing the “Every 15 Minutes” program for Old Town High School, she asked her own teenage children for advice. The program re-creates a deadly drunken-driving accident involving teens, in which students are pulled out of class, parents are informed that their child has been killed, and a mock funeral involving high school students is held.

The shockingly real program that promotes awareness of alcohol abuse has been adopted by schools around the state.

“She’s really been making sure that [students] get this kind of education and training,” Baldacci said. “I really think it saves lives.”

“Underage drinking is a problem everywhere,” Holmes said. “And it’s not just drinking and driving that’s killing our kids.”

Baldacci stressed that the “Every 15 Minutes” program, which is one of Holmes’ most notable accomplishments, has tremendous community support and makes a “real impact” on students and parents.

“That program is basically my baby,” Holmes said.

State and city officials aren’t the only ones who recognize Holmes’ talent. Her coworkers, family and friends also attended Wednesday’s reception and spoke highly of the police officer.

“She just doesn’t let go when somebody needs help, whether it’s the children or the elderly,” Old Town Police Sgt. Travis Roy said Wednesday. Roy, after being made aware of the Trojanowicz award by the police chief, nominated Holmes for the honor.

“She doesn’t take no for an answer,” Roy said.

In addition to her work with Old Town High School students and alcohol abuse awareness in the community and statewide, Holmes has worked extensively to help senior citizens in the community when it comes to getting assistance and preventing crimes against the elderly.

“We’re very proud of Debbie and all she does,” Old Town Council Chairman Alan Stormann said. “Debbie has been such an asset to the community for many years.”

Holmes previously had been recognized by the council for her achievements and work in the city and state.

“She’s just such a nice individual, such a well-rounded person and a mentor for so many people, whether she realizes it or not,” Stormann said.

Holmes doesn’t plan to end her work with the Old Town department anytime soon and says there’s always more to do.

“I started in Old Town; I’ll retire in Old Town,” she said.