Ellsworth High School graduate Dana Austin graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro on Friday, April 7th and has been assigned to Troop J, covering Hancock and Washington Counties.

Dana Austin grew up in Ellsworth and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School and the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  He is a former officer with  the Mount Desert Island Police and also was a deputy with the Hancock Sheriff’s Office.

Austin was one of 8 new troopers who received their badges today. They completed 10 weeks of specialized State Police training, in addition to the 18 weeks of training required of all Maine police officers.

Chief of the State Police, Colonel Robert Williams administered the oath of office and told the new troopers "You will have a huge impact on the communities you serve. People will call you because they expect you can solve all of their problems and sometimes your presence is all that is needed. Treat everyone with respect and dignity."Austin will now train with a veteran Maine State Police Officer before beginning his own patrols

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