JAY – Police officer Troy Young Sr. was promoted to sergeant Tuesday as family members and colleagues watched while he was sworn in by Town Clerk Ronda Palmer.

The promotion comes nearly four months after the 32-year-old Livermore Falls man was seriously injured in a cruiser accident on Woodman Hill Road in North Jay while responding to a report of a car accident.

Young, who said he’s still not 100 percent recovered, is on light duty until his broken leg fully heals. He must occasionally use a cane to help with his mobility.

Young received the most points in the promotion process to earn the sergeant position vacated when Charlie Keene retired last year.

“There was a testing procedure per union contract, and Troy was the top candidate,” police Chief Larry White Sr. said. “You have to be a member of the department for four years to put in for it … I’m happy with the results. He’s an experienced officer with an extensive background in law enforcement. He also has an associate degree in criminal justice.”

It was a lengthy process, White said, with oral boards, training and points for seniority. The chief also is allowed a small percentage of points to award candidates.

“Troy completed and did very well in each and every promotional process phase,” White said. “I look forward to working with him, and he will be an excellent fit in leadership in this department. He’s well liked and respected by all peers. The department as a whole is very excited about Troy’s promotion.”

Young’s wife, Mary, said she was “very proud and excited” about her husband’s promotion.

The sergeant said he was used to working 50 to 60 hours a week and it’s been difficult to be comparatively inactive while recovering from the accident. The wreck, on Nov. 15, 2006, resulted in Young being pinned in his cruiser for 2 hours while emergency responders worked to free him.

He suffered bruised ribs, a bruised lung and broke the lower part of his leg, which now has a steel plate and 13 screws in it.

But he is looking forward to his new role.

“We have a good bunch of guys here and they’re doing a good job. So as far as supervising them, it’s not going to be hard,” Young said.

He is learning all the paperwork and other work that a sergeant needs to do and will also need to learn the chief’s job, too, so he can fill in if needed.

Young’s father, Thomas, and his mother, Lynne, of Fayette, said they were proud of their son.

He decided he wanted to be a police officer and went to school for it, Thomas Young said.

Their son served initially as a park ranger while going to college and also as a security officer on campus. He also was a corrections officer at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn before he took the job in Jay. He started with the Jay Police Department as a reserve officer in 1999 and became full-time in 2004.

“I’m very excited and look forward to continue to work with the chief and the department,” Young said. “It’s good to be in uniform again.”