DOVER-FOXCROFT – Two local police officers will be commended by municipal officials for their actions during a recent standoff that included a response by the Maine State Police tactical team.

Selectman Dan Philbrick, who is on the board’s protection committee, announced on Monday at the board’s regular meeting that Dover-Foxcroft police officers “appropriately” handled the standoff involving Kenneth Cosenze, 44.

“They all did a fine job that night,” Selectman Tom Sands added during the meeting.

Lt. Scott Arno and Officer Dave Wilson tried to arrest Cosenze last month on a warrant for failure to appear on an assault charge when a scuffle erupted at Cosenze’s downtown apartment. Arno was wounded by a pocketknife that Cosenze allegedly had removed from his pocket and had flipped open.

Arno called for the tactical team after he was wounded. Police Chief Dennis Dyer also made the call for the state police.Philbrick’s statement came in the wake of criticism from Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin, who faulted the intervention of the state police tactical team. Goggin, who was at the scene, said he believed that Cosenze, who was threatening suicide, was close to surrendering when the tactical team arrived and prolonged the standoff.

“We’re not police officers, and we’re not there to second guess” the police department’s decisions, Philbrick said after the meeting. The fact that everything came out OK was evidence that they did the right thing, he said. Had things turned out differently, that would have been another matter, Philbrick said.

Col. Craig Poulin of the Maine State Police said Tuesday that the state’s team is specifically trained to respond to such situations.

“It allows us to bring a level of professionalism and expertise to particular situations,” he said, especially when other agencies do not have the capacity to put together their own response teams. Those agencies that request the state support are not billed for the service.

“To me, it just makes good policy sense to use resources that are available out there, and we’re certainly willing to come and assist local-county agencies,” Poulin said. He said the 21-member tactical team, one of five specialty teams of the Maine State Police, consist of highly trained and skilled men and women who work for a peaceful resolution.

Arno said Monday that he was thankful for the support from the Maine State Police as well as the other law enforcement personnel who responded to the call. He said he received an approximately three-quarter-inch deep knife wound to his left triceps, which required three stitches and a cut on his forearm. He called the injuries “defensive-type wounds,” because his arms were up around his neck and head area when he was cut.

“I want to thank my family, loved ones, friends, co-workers, my associates in the criminal justice community and the community of Dover-Foxcroft for their overwhelming concern and support of me following this incident,” Arno said. “The well wishes and support from the people that have called me or seen me in the community have been greatly appreciated and have significantly helped my healing process.”

Arno also had great praise for Wilson, who he said did a “tremendous” job. “Officer Wilson is a credit to this department and community,” the police lieutenant said.

Both Arno and Wilson will be presented with commendations for their actions, according to Philbrick.