Patrick Polky for SHERIFF

Stable Leadership  —  Proven Experience  —  Community First

✨ Moving Knox County Forward Together. General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Welcome!  I’m Patrick Polky, and I have been honored to serve as your elected Sheriff here in Knox County since 2023.

I am proud to have won the Democratic Nomination during June's Primary Election, and I am seeking your vote in November to continue as your elected Sheriff.

My approach to law enforcement is simple: Compassionate Accountability.  I believe a leader should serve with transparency, take total ownership of outcomes, and remain deeply rooted in the communities they protect.

📣 Campaign Volunteering and Contributions

Running a traditional, people-powered campaign means I answer only to you—my neighbors across Knox County.  To reach voters in all 18 of our towns and our unorganized territories, we rely entirely on local support for essential outreach materials like lawn signs and mailers, and people-powered support to conduct outreach county-wide.

🙌 Volunteer: Want to join the team? Email our campaign to volunteer or request swag (i.e., lawn sign, pin, t-shirt, etc.).

💵 Contribute: Sheriff candidates must raise funds the traditional way, without corporate backing.  Help keep our momentum strong by pitching in $10, $25, or whatever you can afford. Let's keep moving Knox County forward, together.

🌱 Generational Roots & Working-Class Values

📍 I was born in Rockport and grew up right in St. George, and my family tree runs deep across the Midcoast.  My wife, Stephanie, and I still live in the very house we hand-built ourselves from the ground up with the sweat equity of local family and friends.

🛠️ I know how hard a dollar is to earn because I've earned them with my hands.  Long before I ever put on a uniform, I spent my youth working as a produce clerk at the Rockland Hannaford, a woodcutter in South Thomaston, and a commercial fisherman in Portland.  I know what it’s like to wake up to a freezing Maine winter and have to work hard to put food on the table.  When your last name is on the ballot, and a good portion of the county is your family, you don’t answer to a political party—you answer to the neighbors you see at the grocery store every single week.

🌟 Decades of Public Service

My life has been defined by a calling to protect and serve our neighbors—from our rural inland towns to our coastal harbors and islands:

🪖 The Military Journey: I enlisted in the military as a Private (E-1) and retired after 21 years of combined service in the U.S. Army and Maine Army National Guard as a First Sergeant (E-8).  I managed complex logistics budgets and commanded force protection missions abroad, and am a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.

🚒 First Responder: I dedicated 20 years to the fire service as a volunteer firefighter and certified EMT for the Town of St. George.

🚔 Law Enforcement Record: I started at the absolute bottom of local law enforcement as a parking officer and dispatcher in Camden before working my way up the ranks over the last two decades, and I am currently a:

— Certified Maine Law Enforcement Officer

— Certified Maine Corrections Officer

— Certified Maine Law Enforcement and Corrections Instructor

Grounded in Family and Community

🏡 When the uniform comes off, I am a regular guy who loves our region.  I am a proud father and grandfather.  Stephanie and I share a deep passion for animal rescue and care for four rescue dogs in our home.  I volunteer my time on local boards like Penquis to tackle regional poverty, and when I need to decompress, you’ll usually find me cooking for a crowd of family, friends, and neighbors or unwinding with a video game.

🛡️ I carry the heavy responsibility of public safety with total humility.  Whether it is diversifying programs to support mental health and addiction resources or leading a fully-staffed department with virtually zero turnover during a national staffing crisis, my mission is to keep all 18 of our towns and unorganized territories safe, stable, and unified.

🙏 Thank you for your continued trust, support, and partnership!

Voter and Voting Information

🗳️ General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

✉️ Absentee Ballots: Available via your local town office starting in early October.

📍 Polling Locations: Check your specific town's municipal hours and voting location.

📧 Email the Campaign:  patrickpolkysheriff@gmail.com

📱 Follow the Campaign:  Facebook, Instagram