Trooper receives award

(Trooper Chris Smith (holding award) received the Jeffery S. Parola Outstanding Officer Award in Troop J.)

By Katy England
edge staff writer
kengland@themaineedge.com

ELLSWORTH – Trooper Christopher Smith was given the Jeffery S. Parola Award for Outstanding Officer in Troop J, which covers Hancock and Washington Counties. The award is named for Trooper Jeffery Parola, who died in the line of duty in 1994. Each year, troopers in Troop J select someone in the ranks to receive the award as a way to both acknowledge the hard work of their peers and remember their fallen comrade.
“It’s a way for us to remember Jeff’s sacrifice,” said Lt. Christopher Coleman, commander of Troop J, who presented the award to Smith on Dec. 23.
Smith has been a Maine State Trooper for three years, but he started his career in law enforcement as a ranger for the park service in Glacier National Park in Montana before coming to Maine to work in Acadia National Park. Smith worked for Mount Desert Island Police Department before being hired by the Maine State Police.
“I was inspired by a trooper at a young age growing up and made it a lifelong goal to achieve being a trooper,” said Smith. “My prior experience is invaluable to being a trooper and helped me create a foundation.”
Coleman explained that receiving the honor from one’s peers often means more to the troopers than getting an award from one’s supervisors. This year Coleman had Smith’s fellow troopers include some reasons why they picked who they did. Here are some of the comments:
- [Smith] is always hard working and willing to help his fellow troopers with anything they require.
- [Smith] is proactive and represents the qualities a Maine State Trooper should have.
-He’s the first person to offer assistance to his fellow troopers and the last to request help.
“It’s overwhelming – I’m very proud,” said Smith. “It means a lot. I’m honored on behalf of the troopers I work with.”