President’s message
My career in law enforcement, which has culminated in being elected sheriff of Somerset County, began nearly fifty years ago. I am honored and humbled to have been selected to lead the Maine Sheriffs’ Association, which coincidentally, is also nearing its fiftieth anniversary. While much has changed in those fifty years, the philosophy of Maine’s sheriffs has remained the same, to focus on community-oriented policing. Our Mission: The Maine Sheriffs’ Association preserves and strengthens the office of Sheriff through professional and collaborative leadership with integrity and compassion; enabling Maine Sheriffs to best protect the citizens they serve.Maine’s sixteen sheriffs, with over five hundred and sixty-three years of service combined, are unlike other law enforcement professionals as they are elected to serve by the voters of Maine communities. Each sheriff was voted into office to serve their county as the highest-ranking county law enforcement officer. The privilege and responsibility that comes with this role is paramount to all sixteen of us. In the 1970’s, Maine sheriffs realized that collectively, sheriffs working together would provide another way to serve Maine citizens statewide. For example, when one sheriff successfully implements a program for shut in elderly citizens in his county, sharing the model with other sheriffs ensures that elderly citizens from Aroostook to York can benefit from the same program. When you multiply successful programs across the state, for the last fifty years, you begin to understand the importance of the Maine Sheriffs Association and the positive impact collaborating sheriffs have on the citizens of Maine. The MSA is so much more than a group of sheriffs that meet regularly. The Association spearheads legislative discussions on topics that are critical to the well-being of our constituents. We meet regularly with our state and municipal colleagues to ensure that we’re sharing information, concerns, and success stories. If a proposed law impacts the safety of Maine people, we evaluate the language intently from the perspective of law enforcement. We recognize that legislators may not be fully educated on the mechanics of jails and other related facets of county law enforcement and we work to ensure that lawmakers are fully aware of the impact of proposed law. Maine sheriffs also collaborate on issues such as inmate transportation and boarding. Working together to minimize the fiscal impact of these services results in savings for all Maine taxpayers. Economically disadvantaged communities can be found in all sixteen counties in Maine and sheriffs herald the dangers of increasing county taxes and the impact on Maine people. Maine’s fifteen county and regional jails are operated by the county sheriffs. Issues facing sheriffs fifty years ago are drastically different than the challenges facing today’s sheriff. Jails have become the de facto landing spots for Mainers struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, inflictions that were much less common to a sheriff in the 20th century. Today’s sheriffs are passionate about educating leaders and decision-makers across the state about the status of these situations and the impact on counties. Maine sheriffs are deeply indebted to those sheriffs who served in the 1970’s, as their visionary design of the Maine Sheriffs Association all those years ago has resulted in what has become a respected and impactful group of law enforcement professionals. On behalf of the sixteen sheriffs of Maine, thank you for your trust and support. Yours in service,Sheriff Dale P. Lancaster
My career in law enforcement, which has culminated in being elected sheriff of Somerset County, began nearly fifty years ago. I am honored and humbled to have been selected to lead the Maine Sheriffs’ Association, which coincidentally, is also nearing its fiftieth anniversary. While much has changed in those fifty years, the philosophy of Maine’s sheriffs has remained the same, to focus on community-oriented policing. Our Mission: The Maine Sheriffs’ Association preserves and strengthens the office of Sheriff through professional and collaborative leadership with integrity and compassion; enabling Maine Sheriffs to best protect the citizens they serve.Maine’s sixteen sheriffs, with over five hundred and sixty-three years of service combined, are unlike other law enforcement professionals as they are elected to serve by the voters of Maine communities. Each sheriff was voted into office to serve their county as the highest-ranking county law enforcement officer. The privilege and responsibility that comes with this role is paramount to all sixteen of us. In the 1970’s, Maine sheriffs realized that collectively, sheriffs working together would provide another way to serve Maine citizens statewide. For example, when one sheriff successfully implements a program for shut in elderly citizens in his county, sharing the model with other sheriffs ensures that elderly citizens from Aroostook to York can benefit from the same program. When you multiply successful programs across the state, for the last fifty years, you begin to understand the importance of the Maine Sheriffs Association and the positive impact collaborating sheriffs have on the citizens of Maine. The MSA is so much more than a group of sheriffs that meet regularly. The Association spearheads legislative discussions on topics that are critical to the well-being of our constituents. We meet regularly with our state and municipal colleagues to ensure that we’re sharing information, concerns, and success stories. If a proposed law impacts the safety of Maine people, we evaluate the language intently from the perspective of law enforcement. We recognize that legislators may not be fully educated on the mechanics of jails and other related facets of county law enforcement and we work to ensure that lawmakers are fully aware of the impact of proposed law. Maine sheriffs also collaborate on issues such as inmate transportation and boarding. Working together to minimize the fiscal impact of these services results in savings for all Maine taxpayers. Economically disadvantaged communities can be found in all sixteen counties in Maine and sheriffs herald the dangers of increasing county taxes and the impact on Maine people. Maine’s fifteen county and regional jails are operated by the county sheriffs. Issues facing sheriffs fifty years ago are drastically different than the challenges facing today’s sheriff. Jails have become the de facto landing spots for Mainers struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, inflictions that were much less common to a sheriff in the 20th century. Today’s sheriffs are passionate about educating leaders and decision-makers across the state about the status of these situations and the impact on counties. Maine sheriffs are deeply indebted to those sheriffs who served in the 1970’s, as their visionary design of the Maine Sheriffs Association all those years ago has resulted in what has become a respected and impactful group of law enforcement professionals. On behalf of the sixteen sheriffs of Maine, thank you for your trust and support. Yours in service,Sheriff Dale P. Lancaster