Sanford Maine Police Department

06/05/2026

Today, the Sanford Police Department says farewell to Lt. Tim DeHaven as he retires after 33 years of dedicated service to the City of Sanford.

Tim's career is a testament to hard work, leadership, and commitment. Over the course of three decades, he rose through the ranks from Field Training Officer to Corporal, Sergeant, and ultimately Lieutenant. Along the way, he helped train and mentor countless officers, leaving a lasting impact on generations of Sanford police officers. Tim was also an original member of the Southern Maine Special Response Team, serving during the early formation of the team and helping build a program that continues to serve our region today.

This morning, Chief Eric Small had the honor of presenting Tim with his retirement shadow box, retirement identification, and service weapon, recognizing a career defined by professionalism, integrity, and service to the community.

"Tim was a cop's cop," said Chief Small. "He was the kind of leader officers trusted because he was always approachable, always willing to listen, and you knew he would take care of his team. He spent 33 years serving the City of Sanford with professionalism, integrity, and quiet leadership. It has been an honor to serve alongside him, and his impact on this department will be felt for years to come."

On behalf of the Sanford Police Department and the community we proudly serve, thank you, Tim, for 33 years of sacrifice, and commitment. Congratulations on a well-earned retirement. We wish you and your family health, happiness, and success in the years ahead.

05/28/2026

CITY HALL VOTER REGISTRATION LOCATION, POLITICAL ACTIVITY:

Just a friendly reminder to all candidates and supporters that City Hall is currently serving as a voter registration and polling location. Because of that, state law restricts political activity, including the placement of campaign signs, within the designated buffer zone shown on the attached map. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding as we work together to keep the election process fair, respectful, and welcoming for all voters.

05/26/2026

Please see the shared post in the event that Nadia comes to your door. It is not a scam.

05/12/2026

The Sanford Police Department is honored to promote the Special Olympics. Please donate:

What started as a summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities, the proud participants, coordinators, and donors, have launched into the global sports movement it is today. Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions every year!

On June 2nd, our Sanford PD team will proudly carry the Special Olympics torch and run 7.5 miles to Waypoint (formerly Waban), where they will hand the torch over to the North Berwick Police Department's team. This starts the torch handoff journey through southern Maine.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the millions of athletes, coaches, and volunteers who help build friendships and understanding for people with and without disabilities.
Want to donate to the Special Olympics and our Sanford Team? Visit https://pro.gofundme.com/team/823707 to learn more.

SANFORD POLICE DEPT

04/23/2026

Bicycle, Motorized Bicycle, Moped, and E-Bike Enforcement

We have received reports of individuals of all ages operating bicycles, e-bikes, and motorized bicycles recklessly, failing to obey traffic laws, operating unregistered vehicles, and not wearing proper safety equipment.

Our officers will be increasing enforcement efforts in accordance with state law and City ordinance.

With the growing number of e-bikes on the road—and the speeds they are capable of reaching—residents should be aware that, depending on the motor wattage and equipment, certain devices are required to be registered through the BMV and display a registration plate if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Exceeds power limits
Motor over 750 watts
2. Exceeds speed limits
Capable of speeds greater than 28 mph with motor assistance
3. Lacks pedals
No functional pedals (not considered a bicycle)

Officers who find violations will be seizing Bicycle, motorized bicycles, mopeds, and E-Bikes until the provisions of the law and ordinances are met.

Ch 245 Art XI No person shall ride or propel a bicycle upon any public street or highway or across any sidewalk except in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable rate of speed. Persons riding bicycles shall observe all traffic rules and regulations applica

04/17/2026

S*X OFFENDER COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION

04/17/2026

After 25 years of dedicated service to the Sanford Police Department, Major Mark Dyer is retiring.

Mark’s career has been defined by professionalism, steady leadership, and a deep commitment to this community. From his service to our country in the United States Marine Corps, to his early days in patrol, where he served as an officer, field training officer, corporal, and sergeant, to his role as Major of Support Services, he has consistently set the standard, not only in how the job is done, but in how people are treated along the way.

He has played a key role in shaping the department into what it is today, mentoring officers, supporting operations behind the scenes, and always ensuring the mission remained focused on serving the public with integrity.

Many in the community also know Mark for his “Mad Dog” Facebook posts, where his personality, humor, and perspective came through in a way that connected with people beyond the badge. It is just one more example of how he built relationships and left a lasting impression, both inside and outside the department.

While Mark is stepping away from full-time service, his impact on this department and this community will not be forgotten. Like many who have dedicated their lives to this profession, policing never truly leaves you.

Please join us in congratulating Mark on an outstanding career and wishing him all the best as he enjoys this well-earned time with his family.

04/16/2026

This week, we want to recognize and thank the dedicated professionals at the Sanford Regional Communications Center (SRCC) for the critical role they play in keeping our community safe. Dispatchers are often the first point of contact in an emergency, gathering vital information, assessing risk, and ensuring officers and first responders have the clearest possible picture before arriving on scene. Their ability to remain calm, focused, and detail-oriented in high-pressure situations is essential to the success and safety of every call we respond to.

Behind every officer in the field is a dispatcher providing constant support—tracking units, coordinating resources, and serving as a lifeline from start to finish. The partnership between dispatch and officers is built on trust, communication, and professionalism, and it is that teamwork that allows us to serve our community effectively. While their work often happens behind the scenes, its impact is felt every day. Thank you, SRCC, for your unwavering commitment and for being an indispensable part of our team.

04/14/2026

This week, we proudly recognize Animal Control Officer Week and take a moment to highlight the incredible work of ACO Lauren Carroll here in the City of Sanford.

Lauren serves on the front lines every day. Protecting animals, supporting residents, and handling situations that are often unpredictable, emotional, and challenging. From reuniting lost pets with their families, investigating animal welfare concerns, to ensuring public safety, her role is vital to the well-being of our community.

Her dedication, professionalism, and compassion do not go unnoticed. She also navigates one of the most difficult parts of the job: Working in situations where pet owners care deeply about their fur-children, and emotions can run high. The tough decisions she must make in the interest of safety and animal welfare are not always popular, but they are always made with a commitment to doing what is right. Whether she’s responding to calls at all hours, assisting our officers, or advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves, Lauren consistently goes above and beyond.

Please join us in thanking ACO Lauren Carroll for her commitment and service to the City of Sanford. We are fortunate to have her as part of our team.

04/06/2026

It's been a while since my last update. Finding the right topic that balances my desire to talk about something and what people might want to hear about is a delicate balance.

Today, we will be talking about freedom of speech. To be clear, I am not talking about criminal hate speech or crimes such as terrorizing or criminal threatening.

I am sure that many, if not all of you, have seen signs along the main streets of our city. They range from political affiliation, notices of events, or dislike/support for people or the government. All of these things, and more, are protected speech. Something a little closer to home for me, due to my job, is a famous benchmark case about government or public figures, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan. This case held that public officials cannot win defamation lawsuits over statements about their official conduct unless they prove the statements were made with “actual malice.” This means the speaker must have known the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth, ensuring strong protection for criticism of government under the First Amendment.

Recently, our city officials, different departments within the city, and the police department have received complaints about certain signs. The city government, especially law enforcement, is not here to silence voices. Our role is to protect people’s right to speak freely. If crimes or city ordinance violations occur (more on that later), they may be enforced, but they need to be enforced based on those specific violations themselves, and not based on feelings stirred up by the message’s content.

Why can’t the city just make an ordinance? The US protects free speech more broadly than any other country. As many know, this protection comes from the First Amendment to the Constitution (added three years after the original Constitution) and is considered a part of the supreme law of the land. That principle was firmly established in Marbury v. Madison, which gave courts the power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. Because of this, even if the City of Sanford passed an ordinance restricting speech, it would likely be ruled unconstitutional and struck down by the courts. The case Texas v. Johnson (1989) stated, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

Regarding city ordinance rules around signs, we need to remember that just because they aren’t pretty, doesn’t mean there is a violation. Though when buildings or properties themselves become real eyesores, it’s usually because they’ve fallen into some level of disrepair. These conditions may create safety concerns, dragging down nearby property values, and often leading to neglected maintenance or unpaid taxes. When this happens, issues tend to escalate, with the town issuing notices, fines, and code violations as problems go unaddressed. If the situation still isn’t resolved, the property may be condemned or face liens, eventually leading to tax foreclosure. At that point, the municipality can take ownership and transfer the property to a land bank for redevelopment or demolition. So if you see something that looks dangerous, say something, and if you get a notice from Code Enforcement, please work with them to resolve any issues. But I digress…

Freedom of speech isn’t always about agreeing with what is being said. Most of the time, popular speech rarely needs protection. Protections matter most when the speech is unpopular. You don’t have to like every message you see, but we all share the responsibility to uphold the freedoms that allow those messages to exist in the first place.

At the end of the day, the goal shouldn’t be to silence speech we don’t like, but to understand it and, when necessary, challenge it with better ideas. Real progress doesn’t come from shouting past each other or reducing complex issues to slogans. It comes from conversation, from listening, and from a willingness to engage in good faith.

As a strong-willed community, we need to be intentional about how we engage with one another. That means taking the time to listen before responding, being curious instead of making assumptions, and a willingness to have real conversations with people we may disagree with. It means moving beyond slogans and sound bites, and choosing dialogue that’s focused on understanding, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Stay curious,
Major Mark “Mad Dog” Dyer