FARMINGTON — At the Selectmen meeting Tuesday night, April 25, three new police officers were introduced, one of whom on his own initiative applied for and received a $2,500 Walmart community grant to upgrade computer equipment.

“We are a far cry from where we were at this time last year,” Police Chief Kenneth Charles said. “We have been selective. We have had a really successful turnaround. I am really proud of the state of officers, the high quality of the staffing we have.”

The department has a pretty talented group of people, still has one opening in the detective division, Charles noted.

Officer Donald Gray grew up in Richmond, where he graduated from high school. He obtained a degree in criminal justice from Norwich University in Vermont, and was commissioned in active duty in the U.S. Army.

“I did that for about eight years, went over to Afghanistan and decided it was time to come back home,” Gray stated. “I got my criminal justice start at Portland [Police Department].”

Gray transferred to the forest service then came to Farmington.

Officer Jonathon Parker was born in Farmington, graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 2000.

“I went to school for criminal justice at [Southern Maine Community College], just recently finished my degree,” Parker noted. “I spent 19 years with Walmart as a assets protection investigating manager and just recently decided to join the ranks at Farmington PD.”

Charles said he had been trying to get Parker to join the department for almost 19 years.

Officer Rex Schweighofer is from Honesdale, Pennsylvania, moved to Maine about three and a half years ago.

“I started my law enforcement career in Old Orchard [Beach], went to Dixfield PD,” Schweighofer said. “I also did some work with Wilton and Fryeburg, am happy to be here in Farmington.”

“As you can tell from the brief resume, these are guys who have a lot of life experience,” Charles noted. “They have got good education, training. They have all been to the [Maine Criminal Justice] Academy. They are all certified. Rex is just finishing up a little bit of field training and ready to hit the road.

“We are moving forward. It is a really good time.”

Charles said Ethan Bronson, another new police officer was unable to attend the meeting, would be introduced at a later one.

“Welcome guys,” Chair Matthew Smith said. “We appreciate it. Thank you for wanting to serve our community.”

Selectmen then permitted Charles to accept a $2,500 grant from Walmart for a laptop computer and other supplies.

“Walmart has an ongoing program where you can apply for community centered grants,” Charles said. “Parks and Rec has benefitted from some of those in the past. They changed their process, it’s now online, it has been a little bit of a bear and I just kind of lost track of it.

“We hired someone who formerly worked for Walmart and on their own initiative was able to figure out the system.”

“The laptop that we use over at the [Franklin County Detention Center] in the intake room is severely dilapidated, it is pieced together,” Parker stated.

The computer needs upgrading, Parker thought doing that through Walmart would be a good thing.

Charles said Walmart was quite generous, his department would be able to upgrade with a new computer and printer plus buy extra toner, paper and other materials.

Selectman Dennis O’Neil asked if the Walmart grant was a national one.

Parker said it is a local community grant, within each store’s geographical area.

O’Neil asked if multiple grants could be applied for.

“I believe you can,” Parker stated. “I am not sure what the time frame is.”

As a member of American Legion, Smith said in that organization, every six months was recommended for applying, “to allow other people to apply.”

In other business, Selectmen permitted Parks and Recreation Department to accept $3,045.55 in donations for new equipment for the youth lacrosse program.

Jared Ranger on behalf of Western Maine Financial Services secured $400 to purchase new lacrosse sticks. Amanda and Pete Roberts donated 25 pairs of gloves and 10 helmets, valued at $2,645.55.

There have been between eight and 18 children in the program over the last eight to ten years. This spring there are 60, said Matt Foster, director of Parks and Recreation. The department was able to purchase 10 sticks with its funds, he noted.

Foster stated there is no fifth/sixth grade travel lacrosse team this year. Parks and Recreation is hosting an in-house league, has been allowed the use of Kemp Field, he said.

“We are excited to see where we go from here,” Foster added.

Lacrosse was non-existent 15 years ago, Smith noted.

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