DEXTER, Maine — Residents have established a memorial scholarship fund in honor of a local police officer who touched many lives during his 24-year career with the Dexter Police Department.
Dexter police Detective Lt. Alan Grinnell died Monday night of natural causes, Town Manager Shelley Watson said Tuesday.
Grinnell, 61, had been a member of the Dexter Police Department since June 1990, when he signed on as a patrol officer, Watson said.
“He was very well respected,” Watson said earlier this week of the detective known as “Dexter 2” to local police scanner enthusiasts.
The Lt. Alan Grinnell Memorial Scholarship Fund was created this week by residents Joel Costonis, Tracey Sawtelle, Steven Bell, Darin Beaulieu and Brandee Brooks-Beaulieu with the help of Bangor Savings Bank, Costonis said Friday.
In addition, Brandee’s Creations has donated 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of memorial bracelets to the scholarship fund, he said.
“This is a fund that will be awarded to graduating students from Dexter High School looking to pursue a career in law enforcement or civil services,” Costonis said.
“Alan deserves it. Alan would do it for you,” Costonis said Friday.
“Not only did he put his best foot forward as a husband and father, Lt. Grinnell represented what a true gentleman was, what a true friend was, what a true police officer was and is supposed to be,” he said.
“Many of us can agree that if ever you required the attention of a police officer, Lt. Grinnell was — and is — the type of officer you hoped would come to your aide,” Costonis said.
Costonis and Sawtelle have organized a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Grinnell. The vigil has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Wayside Park Gazebo.
Grinnell also will be honored during a remembrance event set for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Antioch Baptist Church, according to a notice that the town manager posted Thursday on the town’s Facebook page.
Donations made by check or money order payable to the Lt. Alan Grinnell Memorial Scholarship Fund should be sent to: Lt. Alan Grinnell Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 344, Dexter, ME 04930.