Lincolnville hires new police chief

LINCOLNVILLE – A law enforcement officer with experience in community policing and juvenile detective work is the town’s new police chief.

Selectmen this week hired William Labombarde. The post has been vacant since spring, when Tom Russell resigned the position earlier than his planned June retirement.

Labombarde was granted a three-year contract with an annual salary of $44,000 to start, Selectman Bob Plausse said Wednesday. The new chief will work through a six-month probationary period.

Labombarde, 48, is currently employed by the Wells Police Department as school resource officer and juvenile detective. He joined the Wells force two years ago.

Before that, he worked in the North Berwick Police Department for nine years.

“I think he’s right for Lincolnville,” Plausse said. “He’s got a lot of experience with youth.”

Labombarde expects to begin work in Lincolnville on Oct. 18. He will attend a weeklong chief training seminar at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy before starting the job.

There were three finalists for the post, Plausse said, and all were strong candidates, but the board was impressed with Labombarde.

“He’s got a pretty cool demeanor,” he said of the new chief, “but he can be tough if he has to.”

Labombarde said Wednesday he was ready to take the next step in a career path and liked Lincolnville.

“It’s beautiful,” he said.

The town seemed to him to have the rural qualities of North Berwick, and the coastal tourist attractions of Wells. He and his wife are looking at property to buy in Lincolnville.

A self-described “Army brat” who grew up around the country, he considers Nashua, N.H., his hometown. Before entering law enforcement, Labombarde worked in commercial and industrial construction.

The chief’s job is the only full-time job on the force, Plausse said, but the department is supplemented by a few part-time officers. The new chief will likely work a flexible shift.

Labombarde said the small size of the department also appealed to him.

“I’m a hands-on guy and I thought it would be a good fit,” he said.

Labombarde believes in the principles of community policing, an approach which emphasizes conflict resolution and crime prevention. He also enjoys working with young people, he said, which comes in handy in a small town.

Plausse forecast the new chief would “bring a lot of confidence to the department.”

Labombarde will be accessible and visible, he said.

“He’s the type of officer where it will seem like there will be three cruisers on the road,” Plausse said. “We’re excited about the guy.”