People in The News
Police Chief David Salois Retires from Nearly 30-Year Career
By Leslie O’Donnell 3-5-18
Police Chief David Salois, who has served in Raymond since 1989, will retire on March 16. After almost 30 years in law enforcement – 18 of them as Raymond’s Police Chief, Salois said he has “a wonderful opportunity on the private side, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
In making his retirement announcement, Salois said, “I have met some of the most wonderful people here, and owe my success to the community and its leaders.”
Town Manager Craig Wheeler told the Board of Selectmen at their Feb. 26 meeting that he had accepted Salois’s resignation with regret, and said the chief had served with dignity, high professionalism, integrity and honor.
In the March edition of the Town newsletter, Wheeler wrote, “I characterize (David Salois) as the ‘Police Chief’s Police Chief.’ He is a consummate professional and consistently places the best interests of the Town first in all decisions that he makes. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment as Chief has been to use his leadership abilities to create a well-run and well-managed police and dispatch organization….We are inspired by his strong work ethic, motivated by his fearless attitude, and humbled by his loyalty.”
Salois said it has always been his dream to have a second career, “although I was not sure where that would lead me,” and when an opportunity presented itself, he decided to make the move.
Life will be different for Salois, now that he won’t be on call 24/7, but he said he will “absolutely” miss law enforcement. “All my adult career has been police work,” he said. “But I have the opportunity for another career, and that’s exciting.”
Salois had an internship in college with the Atkinson Police Department, and was hired by that town in 1988 as a part-time officer. The following year, he joined the Raymond Police Department as a full-time officer.
“It’s been a passion all my life to be a police officer,” he added. “I have no family history in law enforcement, but in my senior year of high school, I was selected for the Salem Police Cadets.” The rest is history.
Salois said his years in Raymond have been good ones. In 1995 he was promoted to sergeant and was also the Town Prosecutor. In 1997 he was promoted to lieutenant, and in 2000 he was named police chief. “Eighteen years later, here I am,” he said with a smile.
As the population of Raymond has grown, so has the police force. In 1989 Raymond had eight full-time officers, and today it has 17.
Salois, who is married and has two children, is grateful for the opportunities he has had in Raymond to rise through the ranks, and said he has seen many changes in law enforcement through the decades. He said police work has become more technical in terms of equipment and laws, and noted that society is more litigious now. “Our legislators have done well, and most of our laws are appropriate and serve the safety of our citizens,” he added.
Salois thinks new legislation regarding marijuana, however, is going in the wrong direction. “I think legalizing pot has more downside than up,” he said. “I think the change to make it a violation rather than a misdemeanor has worked, but I don’t think I would go any further to legalize it. Changing to a violation removes it by and large from the court system and doesn’t follow a person like a misdemeanor does.” But he is concerned about problems with testing for impairment.
And asked about arming teachers to combat school shootings, he said that carries “a lot of tentacles. Arming teachers may help in some situations but it also creates unintended consequences.”
Salois said there have been numerous high points to his career, particularly those involved with modernizing training and equipment. He also said that putting together the proposed expansion of the police station was a significant step.
“The biggest thing for me has been the most recent team we’ve put together,” he said. “They’re top notch. And all the cases we solve are always a high point.”
The chief could not name a low point in his career, which says quite a bit.
While a bond for the proposed police station renovations failed to win the approval of voters in 2017 and is not on the warrant in 2018, the Department has encumbered $40,000 to pay for this summer’s project to move the evidence room out of the building and into secure trailers in the parking lot, with the vacated space to be used as a holding room and additional office. “It’s the best temporary solution we have,” he said.
Looking back, Salois said, “From my perspective, Raymond is filled with wonderful people. I’m certainly going to miss the people.
“It has been a wonderful 28 years,” he concluded. “I have zero regrets.”
Raymond Police Chief David T. Salois Retirement Letter
