Ellsworth appoints new police chief

Ellsworth has appointed Troy Bires as chief of police, filling a post vacated in March when the city fired its police chief.

Bires, a Bucksport native with 35 years of experience in law enforcement, had been serving as interim chief in Ellsworth. Previously he held the position of deputy chief.

The city announced his promotion to chief on Monday.

Bires was hired from a field of candidates that had been narrowed to three finalists .

The selection process included resume screenings and scorings, and multiple rounds of interviews with a hiring committee composed of the city manager, human resources director, director of economic development, school superintendent, director of social services, fire chief, a member of the City Council, and a retired police chief from outside of Ellsworth, the city said in an announcement on its website .

The committee “was thoroughly impressed by Chief Bires’ deep care for the police department and the region. His passion for his work and dedication to ensuring the department’s success was evident throughout the interview process,” the city said.

The police chief post has been vacant since Glenn Moshier was fired from the job in March, after an investigation revealed he likely was drunk after he reported to work in response to a local officer shooting a man during an arrest in December.

Bires’ official appointment is still subject to a vote by the City Council at its upcoming August meeting.