Three police officers who captured a bank robber only hours after he walked into a Lisbon bank demanding money with a flare gun have been honored by U.S. Attorney Thomas Delehanty II.

Honors also went to Lewiston and Auburn officers, who helped catch drug dealers, aided the investigation that sent a former assistant U.S. attorney to prison on child pornography charges and worked for three years on the case of convicted sex offender James Raymond of Auburn.

“These people served with great diligence to bring people to justice,” said Donald Clark, an assistant U.S. attorney based in Portland.

The officers were honored Thursday in ceremonies in Portland and Bangor that highlight National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Nominations for the award come from federal prosecutors.

Lisbon’s officers — Detectives Bernard McAllister and William Tapley and Sgt. Scott Stewart — were recognized for their swift capture of Randy Krog. In October 2009, Krog walked into Lisbon’s Androscoggin Savings Bank and demanded money.

Though his face was hidden by a mask, the three officers tracked Krog with the aid of surveillance cameras. 

“The officers’ work led them first to Denise Krog, who in an interview confessed to her own involvement in the heist and identified her husband as the robber,” read the award. “The officers executed a search warrant at the Krogs’ home which led to the recovery most of the bank robbery proceeds.

“Randy Krog, who was home when the officers arrived with the warrant, fled the scene,” the award went on. “Sgt. Stewart ran after him and apprehended Krog after a spirited foot chase. Krog confessed to the robbery and led the officers to the location of additional incriminating evidence.

Lisbon Police Chief David Brooks said he was proud of all three.

“All of the pieces of the puzzle came together,” he said. Randy Krog was sentenced to 46 months in prison. His then-wife, Denise, served a 30-day sentence for her role.

Detective Chad Syphers and School Resource Officer Thomas Poulin of Auburn were recognized for their work in the Raymond case, which began with local charges and ended with federal prosecution.

Syphers conducted key interviews with Raymond, who had served two elementary schools as a music teacher. Poulin had worked with the victims and the families, shepherding them through the court process and informing them of each step in Raymond’s conviction. He began a 12-year sentence last fall.

“It shows the importance of having a school resource officer in the school,” Auburn police Deputy Chief Jason Moen said. “Officer Poulin helped the victims to get through this experience.”

Two Lewiston officers were also recognized.

Det. Scott Bradeen worked with several agencies to gather evidence against James Cameron of Hallowell, a former assistant attorney general who was known as the state’s top drug prosecutor.

Bradeen’s work with computer forensics managed to follow Cameron’s criminal computer activity as he gathered and shared child pornography. Cameron was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.

Lewiston police Officer Michael Dumond was honored for his work as part of a federal and local task force that has led to 32 arrests and, so far, 26 convictions, Lewiston Chief Michael Bussiere said.

dhartill@sunjournal.com

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