LUBEC, Maine — In the 10 weeks this Washington County coastal community has gone without daily police patrols, there’s been something of a low-key crime spree.
“Since June, all except one commercial business on Water Street has been burglarized,” Lubec resident Mike Pivirotto said in a recent email to the Bangor Daily News. “Compare the FBI crime rate of Bar Harbor to Lubec. Violent crime: Lubec 3, Bar Harbor 2. Property crime: Lubec 3, Bar Harbor 1.”
The situation has deteriorated to the point where he claims that a pot of lobsters recently was stolen from the enclosed back porch of a Lubec residence while a woman who lives there was home.
With a population of 1,300, Lubec has no police department. For the past eight years, day-to-day law enforcement needs have been met under a contract with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. That $181,358 annual contract provided Lubec with an 86-hours-a-week, two-officer patrol system at a cost of $497 a day.
The town opted not to approve a new $199,000 annual contract proposed by Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith. Without the contract coverage, response to crime in Lubec is provided on an as-needed, emergency basis by the Maine State Police and by the Sheriff’s Department.
When working under contract, Washington County deputies made routine patrols, checked on the security of homes and businesses, and responded to residents’ concerns. Lubec was the only Washington County community that covered its police services with contracted sheriff’s deputies. Jonesport once did, but recently opted out and now also has no local law enforcement.
Smith said his department’s roster is two deputies short and that recruiting for the high-risk, low-pay job has been difficult. Had the Lubec contract been renewed, Smith said, he would have stepped up recruiting efforts to ensure Lubec’s day-to-day coverage would continue.
“In May, when I was down two officers for Lubec, I met with the board and gave them that [$199,000] option,” Smith said. “Two days later I received a letter stating they opted out. So I did not cancel the contract, they did.”
Smith acknowledges there has been a rash of break-ins in Lubec this summer and says they are under investigation.
“I am not sure that every business has been broken into,” he said. “There have been some breaks that the state police are investigating and some we are. However, those breaks took place in the early morning hours, and, even if they [were under] contract, they would not have had coverage for them.”
Pivirotto said Wednesday that many crimes in Lubec are never reported, including the back porch theft of the lobsters and thefts of boats and kayaks. His property has been vandalized numerous times over the past three years, he said, with those responsible breaking out the windows of his barn and “terrorizing” the sheep and geese being raised there.
Pivirotto is a proponent of Lubec creating its own two-person police force, using the funds once allocated to the contract with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department to hire and equip the two officers. He wants to set a goal of lowering Lubec’s crime rate to at least that of Bar Harbor.
“We need a goal, and we need to work together with the police department we would create,” he said Wednesday. “And we need professionals. Let’s look across the country and find a police chief and let’s hire an assistant chief. Two guys would be able to cover the 86 hours we were getting under the contract.”
Pivirotto said the town could stipulate in the hiring contract that the term be one year or two years and nonrenewable unless the crime rate goal is achieved.
“When we borrow sheriffs from the county, you get officers that are not living here and don’t work here every day. I want officers living here in Lubec as part of the community.”
A special town meeting is scheduled in Lubec for Tuesday, Sept. 18, to consider approval of financing for a proposed $967,000 public works building and an adjacent salt/sand shed. Town Administrator John Sutherland said Wednesday that, after an extended bid review process, the job would be awarded to Bowman Constructors of Newport, with site work beginning within 10 days and occupancy within six months.
Pivirotto says he’ll raise his concerns about local crime at the Sept. 18 meeting.
“The cool thing about Lubec is that it is a small town, and I know I can speak at the town meeting freely, so I will,” he said. “My main point I want to make is that we the town of Lubec need to have a goal for lowering the crime rate. My target to suggest is that we lower our crime rate to less than that of Bar Harbor.”
Smith, who lives in Lubec, said he’s reviewed the FBI crime statistics and thinks a Lubec-to-Bar Harbor comparison is apples-to-oranges.
“Bar Harbor has a fairly large, 24-hour coverage police department,” Smith said.
Seems the local bad guys are taking advantage of a golden opportunity. They are going to give the town a bad reputation and drive down property values. Then the property taxes will go down. Businesses will move out to avoid crime. Property values will go down again. Tax values will go down again.
So, because Lubec has some petty crime, you are predicting a ghost town? lol. With a population of 1,300, a neighborhood watch with a half an ounce of diligence should be able to keep the lid on. I seriously doubt that the MSP and WCSO have totally abandoned the fine citizens of Lubec either. I live in a small town with no police department too, we always seem to muddle through.
I do get carried away at times.
Me too! lol.
This is a town that loves to cut government. It closed its own high school and put its kids on buses for three hours a day to save taxes. From what I have heard there have been no tax benefits, and plenty of misery from cutting school and police.
ya its so sad they should try to open it back up but i dont see that happening at all :(
When a school closes, (which is happening all over the country), it isn’t a decision made, just on a local level. It is a decision made, also by the Department of Education in Augusta. All information is compiled and discussed with them. It has to be shown to them, that it would be a financial hardship to continue keeping a school open. The number of students, the economy of the area, the amount of money to keep it open are just some of the factors that the department has to look at before they give their approval to close a school. After they agree that a school should be closed, then it goes out to the town/city to vote on it. And once a school is closed, that’s it, it’s closed. There is a whole, big, wide picture that most people are not aware of and assume it’s just a decision, made on a local level. So, I suggest that before you make a comment like, “they should try to open it back up”, you do some research first.
Yeah that sounds like an idea. maintain a high school for seven children. They haven’t “loved to cut government” enough for me. The majority of Lubec voters selected Obama in the last presidential cycle.
I bet you are wrong that there are only seven children of high school age. I think you are misspeaking because you are not being objective.
Nope not “mis-speaking” counted the children on the roster for high school. Available at the town office if you have a mind to go up there and read it.
What should they do? Tax people out of their houses and business’
You also need to remember that students from Pembroke, Dennysville, Robbinston and other communities have “put its kids on buses for three hours a day.” I don’t recall any parents from these communities choosing to send their kids to Lubec! The taxpayers from these areas would have had to pay tuition to Lubec to send their kids there. And do you know why they didn’t??……..because Lubec didn’t have the classes that WA and Machias have to offer!
Let me put it to you another way. Someone from Lubec has cancer. They are going to go to the specialists that are available in Bangor and other areas. They aren’t going to get the resources in Lubec, that will help them the most! And this involves a trip to Bangor, which takes, at least a four hour round trip, just travelling.
We shouldn’t be selling our future short, just to keep a local high school, that cannot offer all it can, to give kids a fair chance at their future. Lubec did not have the resources to help kids the most!…….just like the medical center doesn’t have the resources to help a cancer patient the most!
The only misery that is happening now, is from people like you, who cannot or will not see the great benefits of going beyond Whiting Corner!
How convenient that perceived economic advantages mesh so perfectly with better education for the children. Very convenient indeed.
A long time ago, downeast yahoos used to brag that the law didn’t go any further east than Ellsworth -or maybe even Bangor. Might it still be true?
i think the cops are too friendly with people in Lubec and they let them get away with some things and people are too friendly with that thats my opinion people get away with too much in Lubec
Absolutely the friendlyness must end. That’s your solution?
There are problems, I won’t deny that. The town is assessed for 90 miles of shorefront, but can collect taxes on fewer than half those miles because non-profit organizations have taken them off the tax rolls. There is some poverty (not as much as 30 years ago) There is some resentment as summer people take over properties which used to be local owned. There are drugs, but there are drugs everywhere, and I would surely rather live in Lubec than in Lewiston and they HAVE a police department.
its so sad to think i grew up there and nothing has changed same ole break-ins same ole drugs and alcohol but thats everywhere but it just upsets me also tourists have summer homes there and they are even getting broke into how sad come on people something has to be done grow up
…and when you were “growing up” in Lubec there was a police department? Remember Scott Inman, Sidney Hughs? Gib Cassidy? Sounds like they were a bit less than effective in your view?
So why hire another town cop to do nothing?
Punctuation matters. Let’s eat, grandma! versus Let’s eat grandma.
“terrorizing” the sheep? so that’s what they call it these days…
Did you hear that the Irish have discovered two new uses for sheep: mutton and wool.
I think the “cool” thing would be that the
reporter ask other people in the community before they listen to people like
Mr. Pivirotto. How can you compare an affluent community like Bar Harbor to an
impoverished community such as Lubec. As far as the FBI reports go one may want
to look at past trends- I don’t think they have changed. Crime has been happening
in the community even when an officer is present. It was a mutual understanding
between the town administration and the Sheriff’s office to not renew the
contract. The County does not have enough man power and the town does not have
enough funds. Mr. Pivirotto likes to stir the pot.. just ask any of the 3
schools he has sent his kids to in the past three years. People should really
take some “reports” with a grain of salt. Move on to more important things like
how the community will support its kids and provide them with a comprehensive
education.. wait that’s old news right?
And so it begins. People just starting to discover that services really do cost money in one way or another whether you have them or not. I wish you well Lubec, but under the conditions you’ve created I think most folks wouldn’t consider you much of a place to visit or stay. Well, other than of course criminals and as they’re so closely related, politicians.
Great story with lots of back-up and confirmation from the person who would benefit most by a new police contract. How long has Mike Pivirotto lived in Lubec?” A Resident” is what this story is based on. One single person who happens to currently reside in Lubec. Additionally, according to this story one with his own agenda, which needs “crime” to succeed.
I don’t see crime “rising” I see new construction, lots of out-of-staters, I see people being taxed out of houses that their families have owned for generations. In fact now that you mention it, that should be a crime, but not one that would concern police. Hey Erica you don’t live here anymore so what do you really know?
I’m really tired of this rag of a paper writing negative stories (no matter a lack of facts) while ignoring the positive ones.
Here’s some suggestions:
Lubec streets once again seeing people spending money
Farmer’s market every saturday draws people to downtown Lubec.
Lubec library use at all time high. many young people take advantage of resource.
Lubec sees boom in new construction
Old Lubec water front renovated with private money. Many new restaurants and shops.
With these stories you may say “A Local resident says” or you can get off your dead rump and come see for yourself. In any case I guess that everyone sees the world through their own eyes and evaluates that view with their own head. Too bad newspapers need such a dark lense to survive. This part of the world looks pretty bright to me.
So, Lubec is better off then it was 4 years ago.
Depends who you ask. I liked it 40 years ago when it smelled of smoked fish and everyone knew each other. It was poor, but that didn’t seem to matter as much back then.
Lubec is no different than any other town. There have been breaks everywhere no matter if there is police coverage or not. Heaven forbid someone actually get some valid statistics before writing an article that pretty much hinges on ones person opinion and not an informed one at that. The Sheriff’s Department wasn’t even in Lubec most of the time while they had the contract. Anyone could see that.
The result of continually cutting government services.
It would help also if people reported crimes.
Gee, cut the government sector and you get less government. And then you find out what the government has been doing. Potholes and crime . . .
We (several family members) have been going to Lubec on vacation for over three decades and have been witness to many changes in the area thru the years……this summer’s visit showed a more vibrant and bustling community with more people in and around the local businesses and visiting the local sights….it was exciting and encouraging on multiple days to see more of this activity as compared to the last 10 to 15 years…..the comments in the article are somewhat ambiguous in facts and reflect the probable “crime rates” in any Maine town the size of Lubec…..business should not be questioning the viability of doing anything in the area and maybe some secutity measures and more citizen awareness would help deter some of the crime in the area…..Go Lubec! Can’t wait for next summer’s visit…..
I do not believe I have ever read a positive article from Tom Walsh about Lubec or the area surrounding it. Sharon Killey Mack you are missed!
No she isn’t, she was so far up one sided especially when it came to Law enforcement…like the Sheeriff office. She was fooled and could see through the fog of smoke that was being blown her way.
Well, I am sure some will expect me to be negative but the only thing I have to say is that I have heard from officers at the county department that Smith could wait to get out of the contract anyways. But, the Sheriff (whoever it is) still has to project cost and he submitted it to Lubec and they refused to enter into agreement. So, in defense of the Sheriff, he did his job. So, the Sheriff get off the hook of another contract and blame someone else for his department short falls. Did York use to work for the county and now the State Police. He just cant seem to keep employees….maybe he needs to look at his command staff and send them away to training…they clearly need it.
I have absolutely no crime record. But i ask myself, if i was to be a criminal, would i not target communities with no police around?
Incidentally,to my fellow Skow residents that are reading. Imagine what crime would be like in Skowhegan if the two nutcake Skowhegan selectman got their way and cut the Skow PD.
There IS police coverage in Lubec, just not as frequent as when they had a contract with WCSD. Like Donnie said, the crimes are being committed during hours when there would NOT have been an officer on duty, anyway. Lubec is part of Washington County, therefore, the sheriff’s dept does still come to town. The businesses that Mr. Pivirotto mentioned that are being broken into, either have NO security cameras/alarm system, or a very poor system……and obviously, the people committing these crimes KNOW that. They know the businesses that have a good system and that’s why they are not broken into. As for the lobsters being stolen off a woman’s porch, someone KNEW they were there……and besides, who leaves lobsters on a porch, especially with how hot it was all summer?? Mr. Pivirotto has had some issues with some people in Lubec and seems to have an ax to grind. I don’t think the crime rate is any higher now, than it was when Lubec had the contract. You are right, ProudLubecResident, Mr. Walsh does not write anything positive about Lubec! So much for being an unbiased reporter! Mr. Pivirotto, if the sheriff’s dept does not have the resources to put officers in Lubec, on a more regular basis, just where do you think they will come from?? The officers presently employed, are stretched very thin, right now! Erica Parker, you live on Campobello, where there is far more crime going on, than Lubec…….and you have police coverage over there on a lot more frequent basis than Lubec!! SpruceDweller, the town didn’t cut GOVERNMENT. The CITIZENS of the town of Lubec voted to close the high school, because it was costing too much to offer the students just the basic courses. In todays world, students need every opportunity to compete in this ever changing world. Lubec couldn’t afford to do that anymore. The students have adjusted very well and have seized opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to them at Lubec.
Couldn’t BDN have come up with a better picture than this one?? This person is no longer an officer!! I think he “retired”.
I lived full time in Lubec for nearly 20 years, moved away for work reasons. Still keep a summer place there and can’t wait to spend more time there in the future. There is crime everywhere today, not just Lubec. The local folks have a way of taking care of problems. So I can say from first hand knowledge, that once you move away, you realize what a wonderful place Lubec is.
Did a little asking around about the stolen lobster… You know the kind of stuff
reporters used to do. Word (unconfirmed by the lobster’s former owner) is that
the person from whom the lobster was stolen KNOWS who took it. They plan to get
the lobster (or a commensurate amount of money BACK without costing the
taxpayers (who did not commit this crime) a dime. Personally I favor this type of citizen
interaction.
That’s a negative on the identity of the lobster thief. Trust me.