Arthur Smith is currently a deputy with the Knox County Sheriff’s office. Smith is a resident of Hope and moved to Rockport when he was in the fifth grade. Smith graduated from Camden Rockport Regional High School and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

What were your previous first responder positions?

I first began volunteering with the Rockport Fire department, was an officer with the Camden and Rockport Police departments, worked for Camden First Aid and was a deputy with Waldo County Sheriff’s office.

Why did you want to become a first responder?

I have a strong sense of community service and it has been a tradition in my family. My dad was a police officer in Westford, Mass., before he retired and I have cousins in Florida who are law enforcement officers. One is a sergeant and the other a lieutenant.

What was one of your most notable calls?

When I was on patrol for the Rockport Police Department, I observed a vehicle at a home where a domestic incident had previously occurred. I knew it was not the victim’s car plus I also knew she was away for the weekend. I looked in the window and saw a man sleeping on the couch. He had been arrested for domestic violence and was violating bail conditions by returning to the victim’s residence. I saw that he had a rifle by his side so I entered the home and arrested him. I am sure my actions prevented what could have been a very unfortunate situation since I also found several rifle rounds in his pocket along with loaded handguns in his possession. I was honored to have been awarded Rockport Police Officer of the year for this situation.

What are the current challenges facing new police officers entering the field?

We teach recruits very well on criminal and motor vehicle law at the academy, but the hardest challenge is for them to gain the public’s trust and deal with some of the negative perceptions of law enforcement officers.

How has law enforcement changed since you began your tenure in 2004?

The scrutiny that law enforcement officers have to deal with from the public has really increased. We are experiencing more disrespect than in the past. Granted, there are some officers that are bad, but there are so many that do so much good. Additionally, calls for service have increased including those involving drugs, domestic violence, warrants and bail probations.

What was it like to participate in “Wreaths Across America”?

In 2013, I drove the Knox County Sheriff’s car in the caravan to Washington, D.C., with some of my fellow officers from the area. It was a very honoring and humbling experience and it is hard to put into exact words how it felt. At Arlington Cemetery, I helped with passing out the wreaths to citizens, retired and current military officers and family members who had relatives buried in Arlington. The group also laid wreaths at the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and on each state post at the World War II Memorial. We then went to the Law Enforcement Memorial in D.C. and laid wreaths at the names of the two fallen police officers from Knox County.

What is your advice on how a person can stay out of trouble with the law?

It all goes back to having good morals, ethics and being honest and truthful. If you do mess up, “you need to fall on the sword and take what’s due.”

Do you volunteer in the community besides being a deputy?

For the past eight years, I have taught cadets at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy defensive tactics or “MARC”, which means “methods of restraint and control.”

Do you do any other training for police recruits?

I have been chosen to be a cadre of basic law enforcement at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. This fall, I will be overseeing the training class, assisting with instructing and acting as a mentor for the cadets when they are not in class. This is a special eighteen week assignment so I will be at the academy for that time instead of working at the Sheriff’s office.

Do you have any closing thoughts?

If you have a sense of community and service then put in your application to become a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com