BUCKSPORT, Maine — Two police officers and Bucksport’s fire chief were honored by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association for their role in attempting to save the life of a young boy who fell into the Penobscot River last summer.
State Police Lt. Rod Charette, Bucksport police Officer Dan Harlan and Bucksport Fire Chief Craig Bowden were presented with bravery awards at an annual winter meeting last week, according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
The boy, Aiden Bulkley of Bangor, had fallen into the river last August and the boy’s grandfather, Ronald LaRue, 54, of Kentucky, dove in after him, according to BDN archives.
Bowden and Harlan retrieved the boy’s body from the river but he died en route to the hospital, while LaRue’s body was located later that day.
The trio of first responders had been nominated for the honor by Bucksport Police Chief Sean Geagan.
