ROCKLAND — Sometimes other law enforcement agencies ask for Officer Jordan Jandreau’s particular skill set. Yet on Tuesday, March 28, Jandreau’s employer, Rockland Police Department, kept him to themselves so that they could shake his hand while naming him Rockland Police Officer/Employee of the Year 2022.

As a Drug Recognition Expert, Jandreau has been requested by agencies as far south as Wiscasset and as far north as Belfast. Even the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, which has its own DRE, has asked for Jandreau’s help when the KCSO deputy wasn’t available.

Jandreau loves working with the drug component of police work, generating an enthusiasm stronger than his usual enthusiasm for other aspects of his career. He began with Rockland in January 2019, and since then, his peers and the community have taken note.

“You possess great qualities consisting of work ethic, moral aptitude, dedication, politeness, caring and always a consummate professional,” wrote the nominating committee, in a letter read by Police Chief Tim Carroll.

Jandreau’s nomination specifically notes his leadership, his Field Training Officer role, and for being the example that others should follow.

In 2020, the Rockland Police Dept. Facebook page featured a story of Jandreau and Officer Jeff Aeschlimann, after they’d rescued a kitten from a sewer pipe that fed into the crawl space of a house. “Operation Kitty Rescue” was a fun story to tell, and allowed the two the opportunity to experience instant gratification in a career field that doesn’t usually see the final results.

“That was an incident that had a very specific outcome that I don’t typically get to see and be a part of,” he said.

For that reason, the incident will always stay near and dear to his heart. Yet, it’s the special interest in the science of drugs that carries more weight for him.

Drug Recognition Expert

If someone gets arrested for operating under the influence, there’s a whole process that they go through as far as being arrested, or determining that there’s an arrest that needs to be made. Ultimately, if they get arrested for operating under the influence, they provide a breath sample that measures how much or little alcohol is in the system. But if the individual is still showing signs of impairment, Jandreau will get a call.

Jandreau will determine one of three things through a 12-step evaluation. At the end of the evaluation, it’s either that the individual is not impaired, has a medical impairment and needs to go to the hospital, or is impaired and what drug category that individual is impaired by.

“That really feeds into my nerd brain – recognizing the signs, the psycho-physical representations that take place when somebody is intoxicated,” he said.

“It’s really cool.”

“I love educating myself on the different effects it has on the body,” he said.

The different psychological outcomes. For individuals that use substances, how they got from where they were to where they are now. And how that substance itself affects the individual’s brain and the different aspects of life that they are exposed to just by living that particular lifestyle, living with that substance abuse.

“I really, really enjoy having conversations with people who have gone through different types of hardships,” he said. “And the decisions that those hardships have – what road that led them down and where they end up and how they are fighting to get to where they want to be. “

Jandreau, himself, was born in Northern Maine. His family settled in Maryland when his father was stationed there. Yet relatives have always remained in Maine, luring Jandreau and his loved ones back to their roots, at least in the summertime.

“My whole life, I always thought about coming back to Maine,” he said. “I’ve always loved it here. The air is fresher.”

Now, Officer of the Year plaque in hand, Jandreau made clear that his peers are instrumental in his growth as an officer.

“Knowing that everybody recognizes the efforts that I put forward, and that everybody else puts forward,” said Jandreau. “I get to where I am because everyone helps me along the way. Your efforts are reflected in this as well. I appreciate it.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com