WILTON — Wilton Police Chief Heidi Wilcox introduced the town’s newest police officer to the Board of Selectpersons Tuesday.

Ethan Kyes, 22, of Industry has joined the department after earning a Bachelor degree in criminal justice and has gained work experience at the Franklin County Detention Center, she said.

Kyes, who grew up in Wilton, has “a positive attitude and is dedicated to service of this community,” she said.

He has successfully completed his field training but will need to attend the Criminal Justice Academy in January.

Gary Allen, 60, of Sidney has also joined the department as an officer.

“He is retired from the Maine Warden Service and brings a wealth of knowledge and outstanding people skills to the job,” Wilcox said.

Allen has already helped with criminal investigations and is credited with discovering a structure fire while doing night building checks, she said. The fire is now believed to have been a case of arson.

(Ann Bryant/Sun Media Group)

A new Office Manager, Gale McDonald of Jay, has been hired. McDonald has extensive knowledge of office administration and the judicial system, she said.

Wilcox also acknowledged the work of the three other officers in the department during her quarterly report to the board.

“Sgt. Chad Abbott has exceptional investigative skills,” she said. “His involvement in the recent string of commercial burglaries directly led to prosecutorial actions. Officer Derek Daley has done outstanding work with the community while at the same time training out newest officer and Officer Brian Lynch has become a Taser Instructor and has been able to certify our new officers in proper use.”

The entire staff and most of the reserve staff will receive training on mental health first aid for emergency responders in July, Wilcox told the board.

The National Alliance for Mental Health has waived their expenses to provide this training for law enforcement, dispatchers and any first responders in the region, she said.

Over the past three months, the chief and officers have spent time with some of the youngest community members. They have taken turns each week reading to the children in local daycares and enjoyed the time spent talking with the children, she said.

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