Prior to the Orleans Police Department being organized in 1946, the chairman of the Board Of Selectman was the acting Chief of Police with many "special" police officers.
Clarence L. Vanasse was appointed the Police Departments first Chief in May 1946. Chief Vanasse resigned in 1948, and the Department's first patrolman Joseph W. Higgins was then appointed Chief in August 1948. Since then there have been five chiefs appointed. Chief Anstess in 1950, Chief "Chet" Landers in 1954 where he would serve 29 years, Chief Walsh in 1983, Chief Stone in 1988, and currently Chief Jeff Roy who was appointed in January 2003.
In 1954 the Police Dept. moved from a small corner in the former Town Hall, now the Academy for Performing Arts, into a new addition in the Fire Station that was located on Main Street in the center of town which is now the Town Hall Annex. In 1967 the Orleans Police and Fire Depts. moved into a newly constructed building at the corner of Route 28 and Eldredge Parkway. In 1989 the Fire Dept moved into its own facility on Eldredge Parkway and the Police Dept. took over the "old" building after extensive renovations were completed.
Today, the department consists of Chief Roy, one Deputy Chief, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, two Detectives, and twelve Patrolmen. There are also four civilian dispatchers as well as two administrative assistants. |
