BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor Police Department has named its community relations officer as the recipient of its 2016 Chief Don Winslow Community Service Award.
Besides working to strengthen the bonds between the police department and the community, Officer Jason McAmbley has served as the department’s training officer, is a certified firearms instructor and is assigned to the special response team.
McAmbley has 22 years of experience in law enforcement under his gunbelt — 16 of those with the city’s police department, Sgt. Timothy Cotton said Thursday in a news release announcing the award.
“The success of a police department is often measured by the support it receives from the community,” Police Chief Mark Hathaway said in the release. “We are fortunate to work in a community that is truly supportive. Jason’s energy and tireless work ethic has proven to be a huge part of our enhanced relationship with residents and business owners.
“Jason’s work, which only in part includes advancing our neighborhood watch programs, improving our citizen police academy, creating our business owners academy, participating at dozens of job fairs, organizing our toy and pet food drives, providing countless tours of the police station and his never-ending list of speaking engagements at various civic organizations, is all vital to our success as we work toward our collective goal of improved community engagement,” Hathaway said.
The award is presented in memory of popular former Bangor Police Chief Don Winslow, who died of cancer in July 2014 after a nearly 28-year career with the city’s police department. Winslow also served as an Old Town firefighter.