ROCKPORT — The Rockport Police Department has a new patrol Officer, Chris Taylor, who joined the department in October.

Taylor most recently worked for Union Ambulance as an emergency medical technician and still serves there on an on-call basis, as well as with the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service on his days off.

Taylor said he wanted to become a police officer because he likes working with people and the community.

“It is great to have an EMT background to complement my new professional role in law enforcement,” he said.

He thinks Rockport residents are involved in their community and have been welcoming to him as a new patrol officer.

Taylor grew up in Washington and currently resides there. He attended Medomak Valley High School and received a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies from University of Maine at Fort Kent, where he also studied forestry, including fighting wildland fires, for two additional years. 

He worked at the Bitterroot National Forest in Wyoming the summer after he graduated from college.

Taylor has been training with Sgt. Travis Ford and Officer Jim Moore since he joined the department. He will be attending the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in either January or August, based on enrollment space.

Interim Rockport Police Chief Randy Gagne said: “We are happy to have Taylor join the department. His EMT experience as a first responder is an asset along with his enthusiasm about developing his career in law enforcement.”

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com