Jay officer heading for probation post up north
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

JAY – For 31 years, Mike Pike has stuck close to home.

The dusty dirt and paved roads that wind over the rolling mountains and weave around the deep, blue lakes of rural Franklin County and Livermore Falls have long been his stomping grounds.

And the kind people have made the area one he is always proud to call home.

Now, the Jay Police Department officer is busting out and after more than six years of protecting and serving residents in the greater Franklin County area, he’s moving to the Bangor area where he has accepted a position as a probation officer for the state’s Department of Corrections.

He’ll work out of an office in Bangor, but monitor those on probation from Bangor north to the tip of the state.

It’s a big move. One Pike admits he is sad to make, but at the same time, it is an exciting one for him, and his young family including wife, Kim, 4-year-old son, Charles, and 3-year-old daughter, Chloe.

Born and raised

Pike is truly homegrown: graduated from Mount Blue High School, earned an English degree from the University of Maine at Farmington and went to work at local radio station, 99.3 FM WKTJ.

In 1997, he began filling in as reserve officer in Jay and Livermore Falls. A year later, he became a full-time officer for the Livermore Falls Police Department and earlier this year, crossed the county line to become a full-time officer in Jay.

Over the past six years in law enforcement, he has worked as a reserve officer for the UMF Public Safety Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department; taught DARE at area schools and taught ethics, civil liability and history/principles of law enforcement at the state’s Criminal Justice Academy.

His father, Dennis, is the county sheriff, but Pike’s success in law enforcement has come on his own merit.

Hard to replace

“I didn’t want to see him leave,” admits Jay Police Chief Larry White Sr. “He’s been a very outstanding officer for us. Very self-motivated. He really takes pride in his work. Mike just really excels in everything he does. I’ll miss him. I’ll really miss him.”

Pike’s departure the first week of October will mean there will be an opening at Jay. For now, it will be filled by a reserve officer who will become full time temporary.

White said the state is lucky to be getting such a “true professional” and wishes his friend and co-worker the best. “Mike is one of those who never stops. He even comes in on his days off.”

Never stopping and being a parent and a husband can be tough, Pike said. Save for a few exceptions, he has been on the clock most major holidays for the past six years. Late nights. Early mornings. Weekends. Without stop.

He applied for the state job early in 2002, just before a hiring freeze. “I’d forgotten about it, until a couple of weeks ago when I get this call out of the blue,” Pike explained.

An interview in Bangor and he had the job. He’ll work days.

The new venture is an exciting one, he said, because it’s a “good mix” between social work and law enforcement, two of his passions. He’ll get to help people rehabilitate themselves, turn their lives around and start helping their communities instead of hurting them.

“I like sitting down and talking with people,” he said. “Instead of just dealing with them before they go through the judicial process, I’ll have the ability to help them take correction action.”

“I am excited for the future,” Pike says anxiously. And then, looking around the station as a scanner spews static, he adds, “It’s like a family here. All these small departments are. I’ll miss the people around here most.”

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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