The law enforcement community is mourning the sudden death of Kimmerly Maxfield-Fearon, a longtime administrative assistant for the Falmouth Police Department who died March 29 of complications from the flu. She was 58.
Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon joined the Falmouth department in January 1995. She also had been an administrative assistant at the Gorham Police Department for four years and began her career at the Portland Police Department.
On the day she died, Falmouth Police Chief Edward Tolan ordered the flag lowered to half-staff. Officers are wearing mourning bands over their badges, a sign of respect usually reserved for fallen officers.
“She may not have been a sworn officer, but she was one of us,” Tolan said.
Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon began working with Tolan in 1991, when he was Gorham police chief.
Tolan said Thursday that Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon performed a range of duties, from administrative paperwork to preparing material for court and dealing with billing and insurance companies.
“She was not only my right hand, but my left hand,” Tolan said. “She was someone I could count on every single day.”
Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon was remembered by department staff as the “PD mom.”
She recognized the officers’ and dispatchers’ birthdays with a card and cake. Tolan said she never forgot his birthday. He said she was a great friend and confidant to him and many of his officers.
“She kind of looked after everyone here,” Tolan said. “That’s why it’s been so emotional. Everyone loved her.”
Sgt. Frank Soule posted a message Sunday on the Falmouth department’s Facebook page, saying Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon was like the “glue that holds everything together.” He emphasized the interest she took in each of their lives, and how many officers leaned on her in times of personal stress, sadness or sheer joy. She was there through it all, he wrote in the post, which had drawn 180 comments and 142 shares by Thursday afternoon.
“Although she never spent a day in a uniform, she understood the work, culture and trust more than many who do,” Soule wrote. “She lived it every day. Both at work and at home. … You will be forever loved and missed. Rest in Peace, dear friend. We are eternally grateful you were shared with us.”
Her husband, Lawrence Maxfield-Fearon, is a detective on the Gorham police force. The couple married in 1995, uniting their families into a family of six kids.
According to her obituary, published Wednesday, Mrs. Maxfield-Fearon loved hosting family gatherings and made holidays special for loved ones.
“She also had a lively sense of humor and adventure and shared that energy and fun with everyone around her,” the obituary said.
Members of the law enforcement community will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gorham High School to mourn and honor her life.
There will be a heavy police presence from both the Gorham and Falmouth departments. Tolan said he is giving the eulogy.
Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:
Twitter: MelanieCreamer
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