Sheriff

Governor Janet Mills appointed Patrick William Polky as the Sheriff of Knox County on July 28, 2022, filling the remainder of the former sheriff's term. He ran for office that same year, was elected in November, and took office as the elected sheriff on January 1, 2023. He is committed to providing the communities of Knox County with quality law enforcement, corrections, and civil process services and hopes to be reelected in November 2026.

Patrick is a lifelong resident of Knox County, having been born in Rockport and raised and currently living in Saint George. He attended Saint George School and George Valley High School, graduating in 1995. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during his senior year and, after graduation, served as an active-duty Cannon Crew Member for three years.

After his active service, Patrick returned to Maine to pursue a career in firefighting and emergency medical services. He attended Southern Maine Technical College, studying Fire Science Technologies, and participated in a firefighting live-in program with the Scarborough Fire Department. He became certified as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician – Basic and Fire Fighter II qualified. During his collegiate studies, his career goals and aspirations shifted toward a career in criminal justice.

Patrick started his criminal justice career with the Town of Camden in 1999. His first assignments were as a Parking Enforcement Officer and part-time Police Dispatcher. In 2000, he accepted a full-time Patrol Officer position on the night shift at the Camden Police Department. In 2011, Camden promoted him to Patrol Sergeant.

In 2013, an opportunity to continue pursuing his collegiate studies presented itself, so he resigned from his position and became a full-time student, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Public Administration at the University of Phoenix.

In 2014, life events halted Patrick's collegiate studies. He returned to law enforcement with the Knox County Sheriff's Office, hired as a Contract Patrol Deputy for the island of North Haven that same year. In 2015, he accepted a full-time Rural Patrol Deputy position, and within less than a year, he was promoted to Patrol Supervisor. In 2017, he was promoted to Patrol Administrator, and in 2019, Sheriff Tim Carroll appointed him Chief Deputy.

Patrick currently holds certification from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) as a Law Enforcement Officer and Corrections Officer. He also maintains credentials as an instructor for various law enforcement and corrections subjects through the MCJA. He has attended several supervisory, command, and executive leadership classes, including the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and the National Incident Management System.

In addition to leadership, Patrick's focus and specialty within law enforcement has been impaired driving enforcement. He was certified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) from 2005 to 2018. He was an instructor for the State of Maine DRE program and a co-lead instructor of the MCJA Impaired Driving Enforcement Program.

In addition to his active service with the U.S. Army, Patrick served in the Maine Army National Guard and retired with over 21 years of combined service. He re-enlisted in 1999 with the Maine Army National Guard and served in various job specialties, such as Technical Engineering, Logistics Management, and Security Forces. He was also promoted several times, including roles such as Squad Leader, Detachment Non-commissioned Officer, Platoon Sergeant, and First Sergeant. He served in two combat deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the first in 2006 and the second in 2010.

Patrick has been recognized several times throughout his law enforcement and military careers for exemplary service and performance. Most notably, he is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Law Enforcement Life Saving Award, Joint Services Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Distinguished Order of Saint Martin.

Patrick is a 2025 graduate of the University of Maine, Augusta, with a bachelor’s in applied science, minoring in public administration. He also serves on various boards and committees throughout the state, most prominently the Maine E911 Advisory Council and the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s Traffic Safety Committee, and the Penquis Board of Directors.

SELECTION& TENURE - The Constitution of the State of Maine states, "...sheriffs shall be elected by the people of their respective counties, by a plurality of the votes given in on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November, and shall hold their offices for 4 years from the first day of January next after their election, unless sooner removed...".

QUALIFICATIONS - Maine Revised Statute Title 30-A states, "...a person may not be appointed to the office of sheriff, be a candidate for election to the office of sheriff or serve as sheriff of any county in the State unless the candidate meets the following qualifications:  A. The candidate swears to or affirms the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics; B. The candidate has never been convicted of a Class C or higher crime; C. The candidate applies to the Secretary of State for a criminal background investigation; D. The candidate submits written certification from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy that the candidate:  (1) Is currently certified as a law enforcement officer and has met the basic law enforcement training standards under Title 25, section 2804‑C; or (3) Was previously certified as a law enforcement officer and agrees to meet the basic law enforcement training standards under Title 25, section 2804‑C within one year of taking office; and E. The candidate swears to or affirms that the candidate has at least 2 years of supervisory employment experience in law enforcement or corrections or a combination of both and submits the name, address and telephone number for the relevant employer or employers...".

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES - Maine Revised Statute Title 30-A states, "...the office of county sheriff is a full-time office in each county. The duties of the county sheriff include law enforcement, jail administration and court services, with irregular hours, requiring a nonstandard work schedule..." and "... shall act as the chief county law enforcement officer and is responsible for administering and directing the sheriff's department as authorized by the county budget. The sheriff shall inform the county commissioners of sheriff's department activities on a regular basis...". 

The Sheriff can perform: Civil Process; Patrol; Communications centers; Detention (Jail(s)); Investigations, intelligence or laboratory services; Rescue services; Ambulance services; Juvenile services, Temporary holding capacity; Administrative services, Victim and witness support; Aid to other law enforcement agencies; and Parking enforcement specialists.