The Rockland Police Department has received the New England Association of Chiefs of Police (NEACOP) First-Place Award for its 2025 Community Policing Program, in the category of departments serving populations under 15,000. The award will be presented on November 16 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, Rhode Island.

 

NEACOP reviewed submissions from across New England and recognized the Rockland Police Department for its innovative approach and outstanding work in the community, according to the City of Rockland, in a news release.

 

The program grew out of a serious challenge, according to the City. In 2022, calls for service involving juveniles in Rockland rose 94% over the previous year. Rather than relying on enforcement alone, the RPD committed to a department-wide shift toward community policing. Over the winter of 2022–2023, every sworn officer completed a college course in community policing through the University of Maine at Augusta. That made RPD the first law enforcement agency in Maine to achieve 100% participation, a distinction recognized by the University and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

 

RPD then built partnerships across the community to reach young people before problems escalated. These efforts included:

 

The results have been significant. In 2024, juvenile crime in Rockland dropped 37%, and the number of juveniles entering the justice system fell 45%. Juvenile crime declined again in 2025.

 

"I’m immensely proud of the hard work that has been done by not only the members of this Police Department, but also the many community partners that have worked alongside us,” said Rockland Police Chief Tim Carroll. “This award recognizes that the RPD’s goals of improving the quality of life in our city can be best achieved through a collaborative effort with the community we are sworn to protect and serve.”