Winthrop police Lt. Peter Struck, left, takes a telephone call Monday while meeting with newly appointed Monmouth Police Chief Paul Ferland at Ferland’s office in Monmouth. Struck served as acting chief for Monmouth following the departure of Kevin Mulherin, who retired after 10 years with the Monmouth Police Department. Struck will return to his duties as deputy chief in Winthrop. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

MONMOUTH — Paul Ferland, a local resident who served as a patrol sergeant for the Winthrop Police Department, has been named police chief in Monmouth.

Newly appointed Monmouth Police Chief Paul Ferland stands Monday outside the town’s police station. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

The town had been searching for a police chief since shortly after former Chief Kevin Mulherin left the post Nov. 12. Mulherin had served the town for more than a decade.

The town advertised for the opening after Mulherin submitted his resignation Oct. 21. Ferland was the only applicant and members of the town Select Board voted to hire him at their meeting last Wednesday.

Ferland, who was not available Monday for an interview, began his new job Monday, according to officials.

Peter Struck, deputy chief of the Winthrop Police Department, served as Monmouth’s interim chief during the search for Mulherin’s successor.

Ferland was interviewed Nov. 15 by Mulherin; Winthrop police Chief Ryan Frost; Jim Jones, a former state trooper; Monmouth’s incoming Town Manager Justin Poirier; Laurie Walker, the town’s human resource and office manager; and current Monmouth Town Manager Linda Cohen.

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They said they unanimously decided to move forward with the hiring process for Ferland, including background and reference checks and a polygraph test.

“I had a feeling people knew that Paul was going to apply,” Cohen said Wednesday during the board’s meeting, “Sometimes, it is not all about quantity. It is definitely about quality.”

In the meeting packet, Cohen wrote Ferland is a well-known, respected member of the community who worked for the Winthrop Police Department since 2007. Ferland has also served as a captain with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and is certified to train other officers.

“One of the things that impressed me about Paul, and that is so important in a Police Chief, is his focus on community relations,” Cohen wrote. “Paul wants to get out into the community and get to know the people and businesses of Monmouth. Everyone I have spoken with feels that Paul will be an excellent police chief.”

Following Cohen’s introduction, the board voted immediately and unanimously to hire Ferland.

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