Tue, 04/25/2017 - 10:15am

Sarah Shepherd

ROCKPORT — The Rockport Police Department is undergoing changes in their personnel and duties in the department, according to Rockport Chief Randy Gagne, including the resignation of a patrol officer and the sergeant seeking to go back on the road as a patrol officer.

Patrol Officer Dana Smith, who joined the department in May 2008, this spring resigned from his position to take a job in the private sector. Smith’s last day on patrol duty was April 15.

In January, Travis Ford returned to patrol officer status from his previous role as sergeant in the department. Gagne said that Ford had wanted to return to patrol duties last year. He agreed to continue as sergeant during transitions within the Rockport Police Department and between the Rockport and Camden Police departments, beginning in June 2016, after the retirement of former Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley.

Ford started with the department in 1999 and was promoted to sergeant by Kelley in 2008. He was named Rockport’s “Inaugural Officer of the Year” in January 2016.

Gagne said that the Town of Rockport is currently advertising for a full-time patrol officer position and will be accepting applications until May 10.

The vacancy in the patrol officer position is currently being covered by Rockport officers working overtime, and if necessary, mutual aid from the Camden Police Department, according to Gagne.

“We are closing in on filling the supervisory position of sergeant for Rockport. In the interim, [Camden] Lt. Mike Geary, Sgt. Dan Brown and Sgt. John Tooley are all providing that coverage.”

• Rockport settles claims against town, police officers in double-fatal car crash (Sept. 8, 2016)

• Camden, Rockport police officially join forces on six-month trial base (July 12, 2016)

• Terms of agreement: Camden, Rockport to decide on sharing police chief cost, services (June 27, 2016)

• Rockport Police Chief resigns, plans to pursue new challenges (May 24, 2016)

• Police Sgt. Travis Ford named Rockport's inaugural 'Officer of the Year' (Jan. 20, 2016)

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com