WABI interviews LaCroix during National Police Week

WABI (Channel 5) spoke with University of Maine Police Chief Roland LaCroix for a report during National Police Week. LaCroix referred to police officers as a “jack of all trades,” saying they need to have multiple abilities to deal with all sorts of different situations, scenarios and temperaments on a daily  basis. “They’ve got a lot of tricks in their bag,” he said. His department on the Orono campus deals with a smaller geographical area to cover and a different demographic within it, WABI reported. “The majority of our population is 18 to 22 years old. Here at the University of Maine, we are very diverse, probably the most diverse community in a concentrated area in the whole state of Maine,” he said, adding that those factors make being a campus police officer different than for a municipality. “Then we have an opportunity, maybe, hopefully, to have a positive influence on some young person’s life.” LaCroix said recruitment is down for his department and many around the state and country. Those interested in applying can do so through the UMaine Police Department’s website.