More than 80 people turn out for police chief’s retirement party.
PARIS – More than 80 friends, colleagues and admirers gathered Thursday night at the Four Seasons to honor Oxford Police Chief Ronald Kugell, who will retire next week after 40 years on the job.
Kugell arrived in a sport jacket and tie, beaming at the crowd.
“I am pleased to have my entire family here,” he said before sitting down to a buffet dinner organized by local businesses, family, friends and supporters.
The dinner was followed by presentations and stories of Kugell’s nearly 50 years in law enforcement. He joined the Oxford department in 1958 and became chief in 1965.
The lineup of speakers included Oxford County Sheriff Lloyd “Skip” Herrick, Diane Jackson of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office and Brian MacMaster of the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Kugell, 72, became chief of the Oxford Police Department at a time when officers got no official training, there were no police cruisers and the entire budget for the year was $275. He initiated a training program and brought the department from an all-volunteer force to a paid force with four full-time officers.
Kugell said in an interview earlier this week that he always tried to be a problem-solver and to find ways to accommodate people. “Some people are yes people and some people are no people. I would try to figure out a way to say yes, and if I couldn’t, determine what is the next-best thing.”
How do his colleagues feel about his retirement?
His goodbye party program said it simply: “His presence will be greatly missed.”
After retirement, Kugell plans to spend time with his family: his wife, Marcella, and their four grown children and eight grandchildren. He and Marcella also plan to travel around the country in a motor home.
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