Bill Bonney was named Monday as chief of the Waterville Police Department. Bonney, shown Monday outside the police station at 10 Colby St., was the interim chief and before that deputy police chief. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE — Bill Bonney, who has led the Waterville Police Department since December in an interim capacity, was named Monday as the city’s police chief.
Bonney, 47, worked his way up to the top spot, having been hired more than 25 years ago and served in nearly every position in the department.
Acting City Manager Bill Post said Bonney has proven his expertise, leadership and dedication to the city and Police Department over the past seven months as interim chief.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Chief Bonney for many years to come,” Post said.
Bonney has the support of incoming City Manager Bryan Kaenrath, who is scheduled to begin working for the city July 31, Post said. Kaenrath is Saco’s city administrator.
Post, who has authority to hire department heads, said he chose not to conduct a search for a new police chief. The Police Department has 54 employees, 32 of whom are sworn law enforcement officers. Dispatchers are included in that number.
“The knowledge of the city, the knowledge of the businesses, the residents, his expertise and the leadership he has shown make (Bonney) the obvious and best choice, in my opinion,” Post said Monday.
Bonney said he is humbled and honored to be able to continue working with his staff, and he looks forward to expanding community policing programs and working with other city officials and members of the community to make Waterville a safer place to live and work.
“I enjoy working with the community, and we have such a great group of men and women that work here,” he said. “I’m very excited to continue working with them in this capacity.”
Bonney began working at the department in 1998 and served five years on the night shift. He also was a field training officer and trained many recruits, according to Post.
In 2003, Bonney was named the city’s first community policing officer, serving in the city’s South End. In that position, Bonney worked closely with the South End Neighborhood Association to improve the quality of life in that area.
Bonney was promoted to detective in 2005 and worked on drug cases and major crimes. He was made a sergeant in 2007 and helped rewrite the department’s police training officer program.
Bonney also became the principal instructor for the police training officer program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Before being promoted to deputy chief in 2016, Bonney served as a patrol sergeant, communications sergeant and detective sergeant.
Bonney served as deputy chief until Dec. 1, when he became interim chief. He had been scheduled to retire in December, but plans changed when the former police chief, Joseph Massey, announced his retirement in October.
While deputy chief, Bonney researched, developed and implemented the Operation HOPE program, which helps people addicted to substances find treatment centers. He also oversaw day-to-day operations at the department.
“While interim chief of police, Bonney has taken steps to ensure the future of community policing in Waterville, while emphasizing training and professionalism within the department,” Post said.
Bonney has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. He is also a graduate of the 274th session of the FBI National Academy.
Detective Sgt. Lincoln Ryder, who has been serving as interim deputy chief, plans to retire at the end of this month. Bonney said the department is in the process of restructuring the command staff. Instead of having one deputy chief, he said, there will be two majors, one a patrol commander and the other a support services commander.
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