In a Nov. 4 statement, Sheriff Patrick Polky charted the administration’s public safety priorities, focusing heavily on regional resilience and human investment through upcoming economic and social challenges. He wrote the following:

I am profoundly grateful to the voters of Knox County for placing their continued confidence in my leadership and in the dedicated men and women of the Knox County Sheriff's Office! Serving as your Sheriff remains the highest honor of my career in public service.

I want to express immense and deeply personal thanks to my wife, Stephanie, whose unwavering support, strength, and partnership have anchored me throughout this campaign! I also want to explicitly recognize my core team of supporters, led by Chief Deputy Curt Andrick, whose tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to our communities kept our campaign grounded and focused.

As we look toward the future, our immediate focus must turn to the real challenges facing our Midcoast city, towns, islands, and unorganized territories. From economic uncertainty to behavioral health and addiction crises, many of our neighbors are facing difficult times ahead. The Sheriff's Office stands ready to act as a stable, compassionate pillar of support to help our communities navigate these challenges together.

Our administration remains unyielding in its commitment to 'Compassionate Accountability.' True accountability cannot exist in a vacuum; it must be paired with restoration. We must remember that individuals who interact with the justice system remain our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. They are an intrinsic part of our communities.

I believe we have a collective obligation to invest in people, providing the tools and support necessary for them to return as productive, healthy citizens. All too often, institutional stigma creates a 'lifelong' punishment that far outlasts the original offense and does not fit the crime. Knox County will continue to lead the state in corrections stability, diversion initiatives, and mental health partnerships that favor rehabilitation over permanent alienation.

To my family, our personnel, and every resident of Knox County: thank you for your partnership! Let us move forward into the future united as neighbors."

Polky is a lifelong resident of St. George and a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and Maine Army National Guard. He served in Knox County local public safety for over 30 years. He was originally appointed Sheriff in July 2022 by Governor Janet Mills, subsequently won the November 2022 election, and officially took office for his first full term on January 1, 2023.