Brewer Public Safety Director Jason Moffitt is retiring after 25 years on the city’s police force.
Moffitt will start as the assistant city manager on April 1. He will work under City Manager Eric Glidden, who was in the assistant role for just 11 days before he took on the interim city manager job when then-city manager Stephen Bost went on medical leave. Brewer city councilors appointed Glidden to the full time role in November.
In the new role, Moffitt will work with city departments to help advance Brewer and make operations more efficient, Glidden said in the city’s February newsletter.
“I have no doubt his transition into this position will be seamless and beneficial for our entire organization,” Glidden said. “Jason is eager to get started, and is excited to continue Brewer’s efforts to make Brewer a great place to live, work and call home.”
Moffitt’s retirement comes a year after he fatally shot Barry Chick Jr., 39, on March 22 on Green Point Road near the city’s public works building. Moffitt acted in self-defense and it was reasonable for Moffitt to believe Chick posed an “imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to himself and others,” a report from the Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey released Dec. 20 said.
Moffitt’s retirement has a domino effect on other positions throughout Brewer. He will take on a new role in the city manager’s office and his old job will be filled by the deputy chief. A police captain will then be promoted to deputy chief.
It took weeks for Moffitt to decide he was ready to retire.
“It was a very unique opportunity to work for the city in a different capacity and also still be involved here so it doesn’t seem like I’m leaving my family,” Moffitt said. “We’re a very family-oriented agency. Everybody gets along.”
Moffitt was appointed public safety director in June 2016 after he joined the department in 2000. He worked at the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office for three years before moving to Brewer police.
Deputy Chief Christopher Martin will be the new public safety director. His promotion was approved during a special city council meeting Tuesday. He started at Brewer police as a patrol officer in 1994.
The members of the police and fire departments are dedicated and do their jobs well, Martin said. Both departments welcome input from all levels and that is something Martin said he plans to continue.
“I’m honored and humbled to be afforded this opportunity,” Martin said. “I will do my absolute best to ensure that Brewer Public Safety remains the exemplary agency it is and will be in the future years.”
Capt. Anthony Pinette will be promoted to deputy chief.
Martin is already responsible for most of the day to day operations of the police department, Moffitt said. The general public shouldn’t notice a change in public safety operations as Moffitt retires, he said.
“We have people that are hard working, motivated and they believe in us, believe in our mission,” Moffitt said.
In 2013, Martin was suspended and demoted from captain to lieutenant after he pleaded guilty to operating under the influence and was sentenced to 48 hours in the Sagadahoc County Jail. Martin had a blood alcohol content of .17, more than double the legal limit when he was pulled over.
He was suspended from the Brewer Police Department for 60 days and his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days as required by law. Martin was allowed to drive for work during the last 30 days of his suspension, according to previous reporting.
Driving drunk was a life-changing event, Martin said, adding that in the decade since he has worked to become a better person.
“I made a terrible decision and I felt it was important to take full responsibility for my actions,” Martin said. “To this day it is something I still have a great deal of shame about. I let a lot of people down.”
As the new director, Martin said he is prepared to help officers and firefighters deal with their high workloads and ensure they are supported.
“I want to help develop our next generation of leaders in public safety and continue to strengthen our team,” Martin said. “Our greatest asset is our people, they are the very folks out on the front line serving our community, with a commitment to excellence.”
Stepping into the assistant city manager role is the perfect move, Moffitt said, as his skills transfer and it allows him to stay in a city he loves.
“I love Brewer and I live in Brewer and I plan on staying here,” Moffitt said. “I think there are a lot of good things happening in Brewer right now and it’s a great time to be stepping into it.”
There is a swearing in ceremony for Martin at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 31, at Jeff’s Catering and Event Center in Brewer. The event will also be a send-off for Moffitt.
