Police Chief Brian O’Malley, center, is flanked by some of his officers following a swearing-in ceremony for O’Malley on Jan. 31. The city also announced Friday that Adam Higgins will be the department’s new deputy chief. From left are officer Zach Provost, officer Nick Wiers, Sgt. Derek St. Laurent, Sgt. David St. Pierre, Higgins, O’Malley, Sgt. James Theiss, Cpl. Matt Vierling, officer Tyler Martin, officer William Rousseau and officer Craig Johnson.

LEWISTON — The Lewiston Police Department has officially named Lt. Adam Higgins as deputy chief, after he served seven months in an interim role. 

According to a news release Friday, Police Chief Brian O’Malley promoted Higgins this week. Higgins has been a member of the department since January 1990.

O’Malley was sworn in as police chief Jan. 31. 

Mayor Robert Macdonald said Friday that Lewiston is “very fortunate to have such outstanding police leadership,” referring to the recent promotions.

“Adam will be a tremendous complement to our new Police Chief Brian O’Malley, and I look forward to the expertise and skill set that he brings to this position,” Macdonald said. 

According to the release, Higgins has served multiple roles in the department. He’s been a police officer, community resource officer, an agent on the Central Maine Violent Crime Task Force, detective, patrol sergeant and sergeant of detectives, and a lieutenant for the past seven years.

He’s served as interim deputy chief ever since Chief Michael Bussiere resigned last year to take an administrative post in a Dallas suburb. At that time, O’Malley stepped up to interim chief. 

On Friday, Higgins called the promotion a great personal accomplishment. 

“It’s going to be a new challenge, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. 

He said the deputy chief oversees the day-to-day operations of the department, handles personnel issues, and oversees shift watch commanders.

Higgins is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and has an associate of science degree in law enforcement technology from Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, now Southern Maine Community College. In addition, he has completed the Staff & Command Training Program at Roger Williams University.

Higgins has also been a member of the Lewiston Police Honor Guard for the past 27 years and has served as the department’s defensive tactics and taser instructor.

City Administrator Ed Barrett said he’s also looking forward to Higgins remaining in the role.

“His track record with the Lewiston Police Department speaks for itself, and we look forward to Adam sharing the knowledge and experience he will bring to this position with others throughout the department,” he said. “The team of Brian O’Malley and Adam Higgins brings a wide range of skill and experience to the leadership of the department.”

Both Higgins and O’Malley joined the Police Department in 1990. Now they’ll run the department.

Higgins said they graduated from the police academy in the same class. He said they recently talked about their 27-year paths to leading the department together.

“It’s kind of a unique situation,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s happened before (in Lewiston).”

After being sworn in Jan. 31, O’Malley remarked on his administration’s next steps.

“We have a good thing going here in Lewiston,” he said. “We have made some strides in community policing, but we obviously have some issues that are coming to the forefront, and we want to make sure we get ahead of those.”  

Adam Higgins