Bangor Housing Authority Liaison Officer

In 1987, the Bangor Police Department, under former Chief of Police Richard Stockford and in conjunction with the Bangor Housing Authority, developed a program where a police officer would work within Housing Authority properties in an effort to reduce the crime rate within these low-income housing projects. The duties of the officer were to work with the Housing Authority and the residents in this area.

Officer Gregg Sproul was assigned the to the position, and Officer Sproul began to work on developing a repoir with the residents. Officer Sproul enforced the laws, conducted follow-up on police complaints, and engaged in routine patrols in the Capehart area. Shortly after Officer Sproul took the position, he began working on the formation of a Police Athletic League (PAL) . During his tenure with the Housing Authority, the first bike patrol was started, along with a variety of other neighborhood programs such as neighborhood watch.

As a result of Officer Sproul’ s efforts in working together with residents and the Housing Authority, the area experienced a 65% decrease in police related incidents within the first two years.

Today, under the direction of Chief Ron Gastia, the program remains active and this area still enjoys a relatively low crime rate. Officer William Lawrence took over the liaison position after Officer Greg Sproul’ s retirement in September of 2006. The success for the low crime rate in these neighborhoods is due to the continued relationships with Elsie Coffey, Executive Director of Bangor Housing Authority, Bangor Schools, and the residents sharing the common goal of ensuring the best quality of life for everyone who lives and works in these neighborhoods. This is the only neighborhood in the City that has a police officer dedicated to it thanks to the funding of the Bangor Housing Authority.

Officer Lawrence can be contacted either through the Bangor Police Dept. at 947-7384 or at his Capehart office at 941-9551.