Police

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide the highest quality police service to our community and to protect the rights of all guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, the Laws of the State of Maine, and the Ordinances of the City of Bath.

Statement of Values

We, the Bath Police Department (est. 1831), have dedicated ourselves to public service. By choosing a career in law enforcement we recognize the community holds us to the highest standards of conduct. We will foster public trust through our commitment to the following values:

• Community Service- We will strive to meet the challenge of protecting our citizens and be responsive to the needs of our community. We recognize that to be an effective law enforcement agency, we must have the support and trust of the public. We will welcome and seek an active partnership with the community in carrying out our responsibilities.
• Integrity- Our community has entrusted us with tremendous authority and expects that we will do what is right in matters of personal and professional integrity. We will recognize and respect all people as individuals and will hold ourselves to the highest standards of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.
• Professionalism- We are committed to maintaining an environment that promotes and encourages our long-standing tradition of professionalism. We will promote continued professional development through quality recruitment, education and training. We will recognize the changing needs of our community and will demonstrate the flexibility necessary to meet them. We take great pride in our services and our accomplishments.

Patrol Division

The Patrol Division of the Bath Police Department is made up of 13 officers. This includes a supervisory contingent of one Deputy Chief, three Sergeants, and three Corporals. The Patrol Division is split into three shifts, providing 24-hour coverage to the City. The division responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, enforces traffic laws, and maintains a visible presence in the community. Patrol also conducts proactive safety checks, school visits, and neighborhood outreach. The Patrol Division uses conventional fully marked black and white police cruisers in performing its function. Members of the Patrol Division can also be seen riding police mountain bikes or walking foot beats.

Criminal Investigations

The Bath Police Department has 3 detectives; a detective sergeant, one detective that specializes in juvenile cases, and one that handles drug-related offenses. The common tasks assigned to the Detective Division are:

• Investigate and process felony and in-depth cases
• Overseeing the Sex Offender Registration and Neighborhood Notification programs.
• Conducts background checks on potential public safety employees.

Detectives also serve as the agency's civil rights officers.  They are responsible for investigating potential civil rights violations and coordinating with the Attorney General's Office on these matters.  Our currently assigned civil rights officers are Det. Sgt. Ross, Det. Santora, and SRO Reece.

The detective division also oversees the School Resource Officer at Morse High School.

Animal Control

Animal Control helps keep residents and pets safe by responding to animal-related concerns. The City of Bath employs a full time Animal Control Officer (ACO) who handles approximately 800 animal calls each year. Incidents handled by the ACO include animals at large, noise complaints, injured animals, nuisance complaints and animal bites.

Harbor Master

The Harbormaster’s primary responsibilities are the safety of boaters and the regulation of mooring permits for residents and nonresidents in the Bath region. Other responsibilities include ensuring the safety of the navigable waterway, and enforcement of regulations and laws pertaining to watercraft.

The Harbormaster handles a variety of calls from watercraft in distress to overdue boaters and they work with the Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol as needed. The Harbormaster also assists in emergency operations with police and fire rescue personnel, including man overboard incidents, drowning victims, bridge jumpers, suicide attempts and watercraft accidents. The Harbormaster handles many types of water-related incidents on the Kennebec River from North Bath to Popham Beach.

The Bath Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of all who travel on our streets—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Through a combination of education, enforcement, and community outreach, the department works to reduce crashes, curb dangerous driving behaviors, and encourage shared responsibility on the road.

Traffic safety initiatives include targeted patrols in high-risk areas, participation in state and national safety campaigns, and partnerships with local schools and community organizations. The department also responds to citizen concerns about speeding, crosswalk visibility, and neighborhood traffic patterns to support a safer, more livable Bath.

The Parking Enforcement Officer bears primary responsibility for the enforcement of parking ordinances with the city. They work full-time, Monday through Friday during the day, as well as during special events.

• Child Car Seat Installation: The Bath Police Department provides free installations of child car seats. We currently have two officers certified to install them.  If you are interested, please contact Sergeant Devin Hook or Corporal Ryan Kaake and make an appointment.

• Good Morning Program:  If you are an older adult 60 years or older, disabled and live alone in Bath, then this is a perfect free program for you! This program allows you to call in every morning between 8am and 10am to check in.  If we don’t hear from you, we will call or stop by to make sure you are okay.  Learn more: Good Morning Program Application(PDF, 338KB)

• Project Lifesaver: Project Lifesaver is a 501 (C)(3) community-based, public-safety nonprofit organization that provides law enforcement, fire/rescue, search-and-rescue (SAR) teams, caregivers, and others with a program designed to protect and, when necessary, quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life-threatening behavior or wandering. Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small transmitter on the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized frequency signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. The first responders will then use the client’s individualized frequency to locate the position of the individual. The City of Bath Police Department visits each enrolled person once a month to change the battery on the device and check in with that person's family or caregivers. This frequent check-in allows our first responders to know how to best approach the client once found and allow them to be brought back to safety. To enroll in this program, reach out to the Bath Police Department at (207) 443-8339 or by e-mail at msmall@cityofbathmaine.gov.

• Police Volunteers Program: The Bath Police Department utilizes volunteers to enhance existing police services and improve the efficiency of the organization. The Police Volunteers program is for citizens who wish to volunteer their time as non-sworn, non-paid members of the Department. Volunteers do not have any authority or duties that would consider them a police officer. They assist the department in non-law enforcement related tasks oriented towards our community policing efforts. Some such tasks are assisting with gathering data, such as traffic/speed studies, conducting property checks, assisting with parades or Heritage Days, Safety Day, or other community policing events. There is an application process and background check required for potential volunteers. Once selected, volunteers received training before being assigned volunteer tasks.  Police Volunteers Program Handbook(PDF, 384KB)

• Sand Buckets for Seniors: The Bath Police Department's "Sand Buckets for Seniors" program is made possible by the generous donation of buckets from local hardware stores and sand from Bath Public Works. If you or someone you know are a Bath resident, 65 or older and would like some sand for their walkway call our receptionist at 443-5563.

For more information on any of these community programs, contact Deputy Chief Michelle Small at (207) 443-8339.

Residential Parking Permit Application(PDF, 164KB)

Officer Complaint Form(PDF, 63KB) - Officer Complaint Form Instructions(PDF, 32KB)

Officer Commendation Form(PDF, 11KB)

Parking Ticket Appeal Form(PDF, 101KB)

Alarm System Application(PDF, 14KB)

Property/Business Information Form(PDF, 117KB)

Special Services Request(PDF, 398KB)

Records Request(PDF, 207KB)

Voluntary Statement Form(PDF, 116KB)

Application for Street/Sidewalk Closure(PDF, 144KB)

Concealed Weapons Permit Application(PDF, 514KB)

Mooring Permits(PDF, 109KB)

Good Morning Program(PDF, 338KB)