LEWISTON — Former Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre is expected to be named Maine’s next U.S. Marshal, according to a news release from Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

St. Pierre’s “steady leadership” during the mass shooting in October of 2023 was listed as one reason the former chief was nominated for the position.

St. Pierre, who retired just last month, now awaits U.S. Senate confirmation before he takes on the new job.

Collins, in announcing the nomination, heaped praise on the former chief’s accomplishments during his long career in law enforcement.

“Chief St. Pierre has dedicated more than three decades to protecting the people of Lewiston and strengthening partnerships across local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,” Collins wrote. “His steady leadership during the most challenging moment in Maine’s recent history, the tragic mass shooting of 2023, demonstrated his professionalism, composure, and deep commitment to both public safety and public service. With his extensive experience and unique skill set, I am confident that Chief St. Pierre will serve the people of Maine admirably as U.S. Marshal.”

If confirmed, St. Pierre will replace Kevin Neal, who served as U.S. Marshal for Maine since 2022 before moving on to a similar position in Massachusetts.

In his new role, St. Pierre will be in charge of the Maine division of the U.S. Marshal’s service, tasked with apprehending fugitives, housing and transporting federal prisoners, managing assets seized from criminals, protecting the judiciary and running the Witness Protection Program.

St. Pierre was with the Lewiston Police Department more than 30 years, starting as a patrol officer in the summer of 1992 and rising through the ranks to become chief in 2021.

Over the course of his career, he held law enforcement positions ranging from patrol officer to drug agent, detective and patrol lieutenant, “gaining broad experience in criminal investigations, internal affairs, and interagency coordination,” according to the news release.

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in 2023, St. Pierre became the face of the local police force as citizens awaited the arrest of the killer and contended with the enormity of the killings.

“Chief St. Pierre played a central leadership role in coordinating the hundreds of local, state, and federal officers who responded to the deadliest shooting in Maine’s history in 2023,” according to the release.

St. Pierre was also credited with guiding the planning and transition to Lewiston’s new public safety facility, which brings multiple law enforcement agencies together under one roof.

St. Pierre is a 2018 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and remains an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Maine Chiefs of Police Association.

In Lewiston, Mayor Carl Sheline said the city is proud to have its former chief heading for the federal position.

“We definitely miss him,” Sheline said, “but I couldn’t be happier for him.”