By Renee Worthing

Staff Writer

After several months of searching, Kennebunk has a new police chief.

Family and friends filled  town hall April 22 to witness Kennebunk Police Lt. Robert McKenzie accept his role as the newest Kennebunk Police Department chief. After being sworn in by Town Clerk Joanna Moran, McKenzie’s wife Nancy replaced the lieutenant badge with a gold chief’s badge.

Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said the town received more than 75 applicants nationwide and internationally sought the chief position. He said a committee of nine Kennebunk residents spent “untold hours” reviewing applications.

“One applicant rose to the top,” Tibbetts said. “All nine residents (on the committee), chose the top three candidates and all nine were in unison on Robert McKenzie.”

Tibbetts said McKenzie, a Kennebunk native, began his career in public service when he joined the Emergency Medical Services in 1982 and worked his way up to become a firefighter. When a reserve position opened on the Kennebunk Police Department, McKenzie landed the job.

“Every other year, he extended his knowledge with training of his own initiative,” Tibbetts said, adding McKenzie became a “drug expert,” worked in dispatch and as a detective.

“He brings a lot to the table,” Tibbetts said. “He knows the department through and through.”

Tibbetts said he applauded McKenzie for attending college while working and raising a family. He said McKenzie’s reputation “speaks for itself,” adding McKenzie is “humble, not arrogant.”

“He knows how to listen,” Tibbetts said. “He’s a hometown boy and his is a remarkable story and a tribute to Bob (McKenzie),” he said.

Family, friends and coworkers lined the hallway outside the town hall, congratulating McKenzie with handshakes and hugs. Nancy McKenzie said her husband deserved the position.

“He works so hard and never leaves work at the office,” she said. “We’re very, very proud of him.”

McKenzie, on his third day, said his desk is “quite cluttered right now.”

He said his first order of business was to fill the lieutenant position he vacated, which he hopes to fill within a month. He said the position would be available to in-house employees as well as outside candidates. McKenzie also said he planned to continue the work by Interim Director of Police Services Mike Pardue who conducted a department review outlining 45 items that would improve the efficiency of the police department.

“Many of things have already been accomplished and some are a work in progress and always will be,” McKenzie said.

He said a five-year strategic plan comprised of six core components, included a personnel hiring process, officer development training, and securing grants for school resource officers, crime prevention and community-oriented policing. He said improvements have been made in communication with the installation of signal repeaters, grant money was used to buy cameras for the cruisers and officers took part in firearms and emergency vehicle operation training. McKenzie said he is thinking of the future needs of the department, including the facility.

“We have been here five or six years and already we are maxed out on storage space,” he said.

In between the daily operations of the police department McKenzie said he is also busy fielding phone calls and emails from people calling to congratulate him.

Kennebunk Police Lt. Nicholas Higgins said McKenzie was his field-training officer when Higgins joined the department in 1998.

“He has a great sense of humor, but also sets the bar high,” Higgins said.

He said when McKenzie is involved in a disciplinary process, he maintains the respect of the officers.

“I’m excited to serve in a support position to him,” Higgins said.

Patrolman Michael Tucci said when he graduated the Maine State Criminal Justice Academy, it was McKenzie who “pinned” Tucci.

“I think I speak for a lot of guys when I say we’re happy to see him get the position,” Tucci said.