EASTPORT, Maine — The city of Eastport has a new police chief.
Dale Earle was officially appointed at a City Council meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14, by a vote of 3-2.
Council President Mary Repole said city Manager Elaine Abbott made the recommendation in accordance with Eastport’s charter.
“It was a tough decision, and it took a long time to make,” said Abbott, who narrowed the field down to two before making a choice.
“I trusted [Abbott’s] judgment that that was the best choice,” Repole said.
Repole voted to hire Earle as did councilors Colleen Dana-Cummings and Mike Cummings. Opposing were councilors Rocky Archer and Gilbert Murphy.
Earle began his duties the next day at an annual salary of $48,000. He did not sign a contract. In addition to the chief, the department has two full-time officers. Another six part-time officers complete the roster.
“I want the public to know that we’re here to serve,” Earle said Monday. “If they need something, all they have to do is call.”
Earle replaces Frances LaCoute, who resigned Sept. 15 after only eight months on the job. Her last day was Oct. 15. She also received a $48,000 salary.
Earle said his career has come full circle.
“I grew up in Washington County and I started my police career in 1978 and 1979 at Eastport Police Department,” he said.
From there, he worked for several fire departments before working as a Maine State Police trooper from 1982 to 2002. He also worked part time for a while as a deputy under former Washington County Sheriff Joe Tibbetts, he said.
He came out of retirement to take the position in Eastport.
“I hit the ground running. I’m excited,” he said. “It’s just like I never left.”
Earle remembers former Eastport Police Chief Ken Avery telling him in the early 1980s to consider coming back to Eastport when he retired from the state police.
“That always stuck with me,” he said.
Earle is a fourth generation police officer, he said.
His father, James Earle, worked for both the Calais Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. His father’s father, Brewster Earle, was a deputy sheriff in Androscoggin County. His great-grandfather on his mother’s side, Howard Eye, worked for the Milltown police.