Cambridge native named Patrol Officer of the Year

Maine DMR photo OFFICER OF THE YEAR — Officer Johnathan Luellen, center, is pictured with his wife, Greta, and Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish after receiving the 2015 NECLECA Marine Patrol Officer of the Year Award.

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 AUGUSTA — The North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association (NECLECA) recently named Johnathan Luellen as its Marine Patrol Officer of the Year. Luellen was nominated by Lieutenant Dan White of the Marine Patrol’s Division I in Boothbay Harbor.

 The award was given during NECLECA’s annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference in Newport, R.I.

 Luellen is originally from Cambridge and attended Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford. He joined the Marine Patrol in 2013 and serves in the Friendship, Cushing and Bremen area.

 “Officer Luellen not only takes great pride in apprehending violators, but he always is there to educate the fishermen and the community when they have questions for him,” said White.

 White also praised Luellen for handling a high volume of cases that cover a large variety of violations. “In the past year, Officer Luellen has handled 120 violations,” said White. “These included harvesting clams from polluted areas, undersize lobsters, individuals exceeding elver fishing quotas, shellfish harvesting violations, and lobster fishing violations. This kind of enforcement effort is the key to sustaining our state’s valuable marine resources.”

 Luellen was also credited by White for his commitment to excellence. “He has established himself as a very dedicated marine patrol officer,” White said. “It’s hard to believe he only has two years with the department.”

 Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish added that Luellen’s “drive to succeed and commitment to our state’s marine resources and the people who rely on them are the hallmarks of today’s successful marine patrol officer.”

 The Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association is a professional organization comprised of the Chiefs and senior command staff from the 13 northeastern states, US Fish & Wildlife Service, NOAA Officer for Law Enforcement and the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

 The Marine Patrol is a Bureau of the Maine Department of Marine Resource that provides law enforcement, search and rescue, public health, maritime security, and public safety services on Maine’s coastal and tidal waters.