LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Wed, 06/16/2021 - 11:45pm

Pictured left to right are KCSO Chief Deputy Patrick Polky, KCSO Sherriff Tim Carroll, Maine Legion Department Commander Mat Jabaut, KCSO Lt. Arthur Smith and Maine Legion 2nd Vice Commander Kirk Thurston after the presentation of the National American Legion Award for the Northeast Region Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2020. (Photo courtesy War Memorial Post 30)

Pictured left to right are Maine Department Commander Mat Jabaut, Nathan Andrick, Camden Police Detective Sgt. Curt Andrick, Dawn Andrick and Maine Legion Second Vice Commander Kirk Thurston. (Photo courtesy War Memorial Post 30)

CAMDEN/ROCKLAND — Camden Police Detective Sgt. Curt Andrick and Knox County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Arthur Smith have been honored as “Law Enforcement Officers of the Year” by the New England Region of the American Legion.

Both officers were nominated by the War Memorial Post 30 in Camden.

Andrick was nominated in 2019 for the life-saving efforts of a young man who suffered a horrendous bicycle accident in Camden in Dec. 2017.

Smith was recognized for his life saving efforts of a man who had fallen into Crawford Pond in Warren Feb. 1, 2020, the Camden Legion said in a news release.

Due to the pandemic, Andrick and Smith were not presented their awards in 2019 and 2020, respectively. They were formally recognized June 12 when legion members were able to gather again at its 102^nd Annual State Conference in Brewer.

The congratulatory message on the engraved plaques presented to the officers highlighted their “outstanding selfless service over and beyond normal duties through community service and professional achievement thereby exemplifying the meaning of the phrase: America’s Finest.”