FARMINGTON – Officer Shane P. Cote has been selected as the police department’s employee of the winter quarter.

He was selected for an outstanding job of criminal investigation, police Chief Richard E. Caton III said.

The primary mission of the department, Caton said, is to create a “feeling of safety” for people in the town.

He cited a case of a graffiti artist who painted several businesses in the downtown over several months. The person also sprayed some businesses in Auburn.

Cote exhausted all leads and professional resources trying to identify the artist, Caton said. Then, from an informant he learned the identity of a suspect and was able to put the case together and charge the young man.