New assistant chief chosen from within
After taking stock of 40 candidates, Portland's police chief selects his 'right hand' for the job.
By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — Police Chief James Craig considered 40 candidates from around the country to be his assistant chief before choosing someone who was already in the department: Cmdr. Michael Sauschuck.
Michael Sauschuck
"Mike has been my right hand," Craig said Wednesday. "He is a terrific confidant who is well respected by the men and women in the organization, as well as elected officials and in the community."
Sauschuck, who was promoted in August from lieutenant to the new position of commander of uniform services, will shift his focus from patrol to the criminal investigations division and support services.
He is a 13-year veteran of the department, a decorated officer who has worked in many specialties. Before becoming a police officer, he served for five years in the Marine Corps.
Craig began the search after Assistant Chief Joseph Loughlin retired at the end of 2009. Search panels included members of the community and the department's unions. Craig has said the assistant chief will be responsible for implementing community outreach initiatives and managing the department's statistical crime analysis.
The chief said the strong field of candidates included a former colleague from the Los Angeles Police Department.
"Certainly, Mike separated himself from the pack," he said.
Craig praised Sauschuck's willingness to adapt and his ability to foster change in the department, from creating a new schedule to implementing the senior lead officer program to leading a trip to Los Angeles to learn the latest in policing techniques.
Sauschuck said he is looking forward to helping to keep the organization changing for the better.
"You definitely have to be flexible in this work, period, but especially in an organization with officers who are requesting change," he said. "They want us to take this to the next level. They want us to be innovative and adopt the best practices nationwide, and they're willing to adapt and work with us."
Sauschuck's salary was not immediately available, though the salary range for the position is $66,000 to $88,000 a year.
Craig said he will appoint a new commander soon from within the department.
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
dhench@pressherald.com
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11 COMMENTS
heyjoe said...
His salary is serious lunch money, which to me looks like he would be a easy mark....
March 18, 2010 at 6:47 AM Report abuse
Todd said...
$88,000 per year? Are these people serious? Let's see, 5 years as a jarhead, then 13 years with the cop department. No mention of education or other achievements. This is truly feeding at the public trough.
March 18, 2010 at 7:20 AM Report abuse
Old-school said...
Sounds like someone is feeling a little inadequate this morning. Mike is eminently qualified for the job. The top pay is 88k, nothing in the article says that is what he earns. And maybe, prior to launching baseless criticism, one might want to check the number of hours a day/week the guy puts in. If you had a horse in the race that didn't win, that doesn't diminish the value of the horse that did.
March 18, 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse
Beemeup said...
Congratulations Officer. Enjoy your big pay day on us. Hopefully the Chief will appoint someone to monitor the patrol division that will instill a sense of integrity and fairness in how Patrol officers enforce the laws related to traffic violations.
March 18, 2010 at 8:18 AM Report abuse
StovePrairie said...
Oh, thank God and all powers of divine intervention! No more humans from Los Angeles. ONE is enough - or more than enough.
March 18, 2010 at 8:42 AM Report abuse
cranky-yank said...
My guess is Todd can't read-the salary RANGE for the position is $66,000-$88,000. That DOES NOT mean that the new hire automatically gets $88K, more likely he'll be in the $68-72K range depending on experience and education. The top amount is what someone just before reaching retirement would be making, assuming the credentials and experience added up to that. As for StovePrairie's comment-ignorance at its worst.
March 18, 2010 at 12:01 PM Report abuse
Todd said...
I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it; I'm saying that 18 years of PUBLIC SECTOR work leading to an $88K job is a very rapid rise, assuming no significant higher education or other notable achievements. Based on what is known, this appears to be an inflated salary. The federal and state governments are loaded with people with significant higher educations and far greater responsibility who work their entire career to get to the $88K level in Maine (if they ever do). Also, in my HR experience, appointments of this nature are very often negotiated at or near the top of the range. I don't for a second believe that this "chief's confidant and right hand man" is starting at the bottom.
March 18, 2010 at 12:48 PM Report abuse
fredsr said...
Hey, some people just cannot stand it when they learn what some law enforcement professionals make for a salary. They refuse to look nationwide at comparable cities and evaluated their salaries. To be a second in command at a Police Department of well over 100 uniformed officers, the pay range is certainly well within the salary norm. Congratulations on the promotion sir.
March 18, 2010 at 1:06 PM Report abuse
bGFycmV0dGE%3D said...
As someone who knows, let me say this: A good man and a great choice. Sauschucks is more than well educated both in life experience, professional experience and in a "formal" setting. Achievements would require a separate article and page. Don't question the leadership skill either, there aren't many, anywhere, that are better. Come on folks, stop talking just to hear yourself make noise. This is a good, smart, beneficial choice for everyone.
March 18, 2010 at 4:33 PM Report abuse
FredTaylor said...
I work with Mike back in 96, just before I retired. I was his field training officer. I could tell from day 1 this guy would be a chief one day. He single-handedly cleaned up Sagamore Village in the course of one weekend. We used 3 cases of mace and broke a lumber yard worth of batons on those hooligans. It broke their spirt and the projects down there haven't been a problem since. That was our old-school version of Community Policing.
March 18, 2010 at 6:38 PM Report abuse
null said...
Congratulations to you sir. You have servd your country as a Marine and was a credit to the Corps. You have also served the citizens of Portland as a Police Officer and are equally a credit to your fine Department and the good men and women you have led while there. You and your fellow officers deserve nothing but praise from a grateful community and you also deserve all the compensation you get and more. Thank you and Semper Fi.
March 18, 2010 at 6:57 PM Report abuse