Dyer looks to give voters a choice in sheriff’s race

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — After 42 years in law enforcement, including 28 years as chief of the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department, Dennis Dyer said that he’s ready to take the next step in his career.

Contributed photo / Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Dennis Dyer
   

     Dyer has announced that he’s running for Piscataquis County sheriff as an independent. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I feel that this is the right time,” said Dyer. “I’m not a politician. I tell it like it is.”
    The 63-year-old veteran law enforcement officer will more than likely be running against incumbent John J. Goggin, a Republican who hasn’t been challenged in a primary or general election since he was first elected in 1990. “I have a lot of respect for John (Goggin),” said Dyer, “but I think voters in Piscataquis County should have a choice.”
    Dyer was a Piscataquis County sheriff’s deputy in the 1970s before accepting an assignment with the Maine Department of Public Safety’s drug investigation division, a precursor to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. When funding ran out for the program, he returned to the sheriff’s department for a while and was hired by Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Herb Green in 1978. He was appointed chief in 1985.
    Dyer emphasized that he’s gathering signatures to get on the ballot only during his off-duty hours as chief. “You won’t find any petition papers on my desk,” he said.
    While his campaign is just getting underway, Dyer said he’s pinpointed several issues based on conversations with county residents.
    Dyer said he’d like to see improved communication between the sheriff’s department and the four municipal police departments in the county. “We all have the same goal: to protect and serve our citizens,” said Dyer. “The sheriff’s department used to have monthly meetings with the local police chiefs once a month and I thought it was a great idea. I’d also like to have deputies in the Greenville and Brownville areas to back up the local departments and improve response time.”
    Dyer also said that he sees no problems in the way the dispatch center and jail are being operated. “I’m not the type to go in and make major changes if things are running well,” he said. “But I have some ideas that I think will improve the sheriff’s department and I hope voters agree with me.”
    In addition to his law enforcement work, Dyer is also active in several community and fraternal organizations including the Mosaic Masonic Lodge and the Anah Temple Shrine Clown Unit.
    While independent or non-enrolled sheriffs are rare in Maine, they’re not unheard of. Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith, who first took office as an independent in 2007, is seeking re-election this year.
    And Dennis Pike served as Franklin County sheriff for 12 years until he was defeated by Scott Nichols in 2012. Nichols then appointed Pike as a part-time deputy so he could reach his goal of 50 years of law enforcement service.