Limestone nears completion of police deal

LIMESTONE – With the will of the voters in mind, officials are completing plans to hand over law enforcement for the town of Limestone to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department.

“All that is pending is the signing of the contract,” Sheriff Jim Madore said Thursday. “We have gone through the hiring process and the deal has been approved by the county commissioners. All that is left is the contract.”

On Nov. 2, Limestone voters approved a referendum to pursue negotiations with the Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services. Residents voted 534 to 484 in favor of terminating services of the Limestone Police Department and allowing the sheriff’s department to take the reins. The referendum came after problems Limestone had in retaining officers. The sheriff’s department is slated to provide full-time police protection at an estimated cost of $257,000. There is one final public hearing scheduled to review the matter on Dec. 29.

“We are pretty excited,” Madore admitted. “We will have four full-time and three part-time officers patrolling within the town limits.”

At this point, Limestone has a police department that is staffed by part-time reserve personnel and a part-time police chief. The town usually has three full-time officers and a police chief. The part-time chief, Sgt. Michael Gahagan, is also working full-time with the Caribou Police Department.

The Sheriff’s Department will retain all of Limestone’s police equipment and convert their cruisers for use by the sheriff’s department, according to Madore. Deputies in Limestone will not be answering calls elsewhere while on duty in the town.

“Unless a monkey wrench gets thrown into the wheels, we hope to be providing services by the first of the year or the first few weeks of the year,” he explained Thursday. “We’re looking forward to a great partnership with the town of Limestone.”