JAY – Patrolman Richard Caton IV gave input into the design of the new police station but didn’t get a chance to see it done or work in it until this month.

He likes how it turned out.

Caton, 28, of Wilton, has rejoined the Jay Police Department after serving nearly two years on the Wilton Police Department.

He started in Jay in 2003, his first full-time police job, went to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and while there he was recognized for his marksman skills in 2004 when he shot the target 250 times out of 250 rounds, a record at the time. He worked his way into detective work and then left in 2007 to police his hometown. He was promoted to lieutenant in Wilton soon after.

When Jay police officer Steve Wilkinson left to take a position in Livermore Falls, Caton was hired to patrol the familiar streets of Jay again, with added skills to boot.

“I had a good working relationship with Wilton,” he said. “I left because of personal reasons.”

He was the night supervisor in Wilton working from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and that is a tough schedule for family time, he said. He and wife, Sarah, have two children.

Caton is no longer in a salaried position with no paid overtime.

He works a 12-hour rotation shift in Jay and makes $17.81 per hour and gets paid overtime, if needed.

“Both communities are great to work with,” Caton said. “The citizens are friendly. I have had many people come by to welcome me back in the last two weeks. That was really nice.”

Caton comes from a law enforcement background, including his father, Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III and his mother, Franklin County Sheriff’s Communications Center Supervisor Supervisor Melinda Caton.

And, the younger Caton plans to work in the field for years to come.

He gained supervisory skills and learned the administrative part of a police force in Wilton, and is hoping within 10 years from now to be a supervisor position or a police chief.

“Richard was a valuable officer when he left and is even more now,” Jay police Chief Larry White Sr. said. “He is a real team player. He is very well liked by all of his peers. He has excellent investigator skills. I was using him as an on-call supervisor before he left, at the time, and intend to use him in that capacity in the future. Officer Caton comes to work to really work. I never have to worry about any cases, any incidents when he’s here on patrol. He is an outstanding police officer and we are very happy to have him back with us.”

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