Norway welcomes new officer, old friend

Photo: A.M. Sheehan

Norway Police Officer Mitchell J. Shaw

NORWAY — Norway has welcomed a new officer to its ranks and welcomed back a former neighbor.

Mitchell J. Shaw, 30, the newest recruit to the Norway Police Department, brings with him a wealth of experience from his tenure on the Denver (Colorado) Police Department. He also brings with him an intimate knowledge of the area. He grew up in South Paris and graduated from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

Norway Police Chief Rob Federico is pleased that Shaw agreed to come to Norway. "I actively recruited him," said Federico who noted that Shaw would be a real asset to the department.

Shaw graduated from the University of Southern maine in 2006 with a degree in psychology. He then moved to Denver to join the Denver PD. The move was a natural segue for someone who had been an Explorer in high school already interested in a career in law enforcement, Armed with a degree in psychology, Shaw has a solid foundation for a career in law enforcement.

He has spent the past five or so years in Denver but wanted to return home with his family to be closer to his and his wife's extended family here in the Oxford Hills. He arrived about two weeks ago, and worked his first day last week. For the next three weeks he is under the tutelage of Officer Ron Cole.

While on DPD, Shaw patroled a metro area of approximately one million. Domestic violence, drugs and intoxication were nightly occurances. "It's about the same," said Shaw of the area, "but on a much smaller scale."

His last six months at DPD saw him involved with a unit that covered the business district in Denver doing a form of community policing. This involved listening to business owners and working with them to resolve issues.

Shaw also brings training in terrorism – he has been an intelligence liaison with a number of anti-terror organizatons; tactical training for immediate action situations (for example: subject has a gun and is shooting or threatening to shoot others) and bomb – improvised explosives – training.

When not working, Shaw enjoys running, mountain climbing and soccer.

He wants to stay in the area a long time to raise his family and, during that time, become involved in the community and in bettering the community.

"I was active in Denver through our church and I want to do that here," he explained. He is interested in helping with fund drives to benefit youth and helping those less fortunate.

Shaw is a fan of community policing – working with the community to make a better place to live for all.

"What's really important here, is the fact that Maine can keep it's young people here as long as we can be competitive in wages and benefits," said Federico, "offer a challenging career, affordable living conditions and a better quality of life."

"Mitch is a welcome addition to the Norway Police Department and I expect he will offer an abundance of experience from his time in Denver."