Being Thankful

3 years ago

To the Editor: 

The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office has much to be thankful for this year. While it would be easy to talk about negativity given all that has gone on – I want to turn ourselves to what I am thankful for.

I’m thankful first for the people of Aroostook County. They have been resilient in this pandemic, and we see it every day in the interactions we have with them. 

The generosity and thoughtfulness of people from the County is overwhelming.  I’m thankful for our Administrative Assistants who are the heart of the Sheriff’s Office, keeping everything running like clockwork.   

I’m thankful for the Corrections officers employed at the County Jail.  They are tasked with so much more than just corrections.   

They are an extraordinary group of people that do an impossible job.  I’m thankful for our dispatchers, who are the lifeline for all of us.  They are the calm in chaos.  I’m thankful for our patrol division who keep our communities safe every day.  

They, too, are tasked with being so much more than just law enforcement.  I’m grateful for their dedication to the County.  I’m thankful for the families of all the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office employees.  Without your support, these jobs would be impossible. 

 It’s easy to look for the bad – it’s equally important to look for the good. We have a lot of good in the county, and we wish you all safe, happy, healthy holidays — we are here if you need us.


Aroostook County Sheriff Shawn Gillen
Houlton, ME