ROCKPORT — Rockport and the local community is filled with sadness today, July 7, as one by one, citizens learn about the passing  of Police Officer Travis Ford. He was an honorable man, a quiet yet kind, competent, calm and effective officer of the peace.

He died suddenly July 6 of cardiac complications at age 56, leaving his family, friends, coworkers and larger community grieving.

Officer Ford was often at Rockport Harbor early in the morning, coming off a shift or going onto a shift. It did not matter, he'd smile and wave, sometimes roll down his window for a brief chat. But not for long, because he was on duty, and that meant he had work to do.

For many years, Officer Ford was the point person in Rockport for assisting the less fortunate — those leaving the hospital and having no place to land; or homeless, and walking aimlessly along Route 1; or a family that suddenly fell upon hard times. He was compassionate and firm, resourceful and accomplished.

And he never sought the limelight. He did not want attention. He wanted to do his job and do it well. He was a force of good.

He joined Rockport's police department in 1999, after receiving a degree in criminal justice in 1995, and graduating from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 2000. He was a graduate of Camden-Rockport High School, a few years behind Camden-Rockport Police Chief Randy Gagne.

His peers and the Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley recognized him as Officer of the Year in 2015, when he was named Rockport's Inaugural Officer of the Year.

In 2017, he was recognized again, this time by Chief Gagne, who honored Officer Ford for assisting in a time of transition. 

“Travis helped out immensely for staying six months when the department was going through changes,” said Gagne, in 2017. “He was the glue that kept it together."

Ford had agreed to serve as sergeant for six months, and then he requested to return to officer duty. That was because he wanted to, “go back to patrol and do things he likes to do,” said Gagne, and said that Ford liked patrolling the hospital and schools. “He is one of finest officers I have ever worked with. He thinks about everything he does. He cares about the town. He is a true professional.”

Rockport Town Manager Jon Duke described Officer Ford as, "the best of us, a model police officer and town employee."

Staff is grieving, he said, over, "the loss of a good coworker and even better man. Travis was one out of one, and we are all better for having him work for the Town of Rockport for every second of the last 26 years. We are thinking of Michelle and the boys."

In 2014, Officer Ford told PenBayPilot.com what it was like being a small town police officer: "You think you’re in a small town and you’re just going to see small problems, little things that go on throughout your day, but you never know what’s going to come over that radio, or when that phone rings what you’re going to end with. It can be a quiet day like I’m enjoying right now, in just seconds the phone rings and your whole day changes.”

He was asked: "You’re human, you have feelings. What is heartbreaking about your job?"

Officer Ford replied: “Kids and when you’re dealing with small children because I have kids. Seeing people who are involved with drugs and they’re addicted and it’s kind of a hopeless road for them. You might run into the same person time after time and you see them getting worse.

"You can see the toll it’s taking on their body and their minds and their families. That’s hard to watch knowing there’s not a whole lot you can do. We’re in the law enforcement profession so we’re trying to get drugs off the street; we’re making arrests when they’re doing these things. They are stealing because they need drug money and there is a lot of crime committed because they need drugs.

"It’s heartbreaking because sometimes you’ll have young adults 17, 18, 19 years-old and they’re an addict and that’s really hard to see.”   

Chief Gagne made a public announcement July 7:

"It is with the deepest regrets the Rockport Police Department announces the unexpected passing of Officer Travis Ford on July 6, 2025, due to cardiac complications," he said. "Officer Ford served his community to the best of his ability each and every day. Travis was always cool under pressure no matter what the call was. He had the ability to talk with anyone no matter what the situation."

He continued: "Your department, and community thank you for everything you have done during your career with Rockport PD. Travis you left us way to soon. We all had more calls to go on and stories to tell together. We can never thank you enough for making us all better humans by following your lead. You will be missed greatly old friend! I'm sure you'll be watching over all of us because that's just who you are. Until we meet again rest easy, because we'll have some stories to tell!"