A familiar face now becomes chief of Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach Police Department has named a new police chief — one with a familiar face.
After 29 years, Elise Chard has worked her way up in the Old Orchard Beach Police Department and just this week has been named chief- the first woman ever to hold the position of this beach town.
“I started out as in patrol when I came down here just like everybody else," Chard said.
“Then I was fortunate enough to go into the detective unit and that was challenging in itself. At the time I was the only detective, and we had a lot going on. Typical summers in Old Orchard really kept us busy."
Chard credits her success to Chief Kelley — Kelley retired earlier this year after 49 years on the job.
"He was my mentor and a very good friend,” Chard said. “We worked very well together. He was a wealth of institutional knowledge."
Kelley was grooming her along the way.
“He taught me so many things and he prepared me,” Chard said.
Chard started her law enforcement career as a reserve officer when she was 18 years old.
She worked in Lisbon for a few years, then as a special agent for Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and finally made her way south to Old Orchard Beach.
Here, she met her husband — also a police officer — and together they raised their two daughters. Now, she’s the mentor.
A new fleet of reserve officers has been hired for the summer to supplement the full-time staff of 22 sworn officers.
“You have to be passionate about it," Chard said. “You have to want to do this job, to be able to do this job."