Who I Am

👤 Who I Am: Neighbor, Veteran, and Your Sheriff

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me outside of the uniform. I believe that local law enforcement should be accessible, approachable, and deeply connected to the community it serves. My approach to public safety is built on a simple core philosophy: Compassionate Accountability. That means leading with transparency, taking total personal ownership when things go wrong, and actively building a culture of trust.

Here is a look at the roots, values, and experiences that shape how I lead as your Sheriff.

🏡 Generational Roots & Working-Class Values

I was born in Rockport and am a lifelong resident of Saint George; my family tree runs deep across the Midcoast. Both of my parents came from massive families, meaning that if you know someone with the surname Polky and Scammon in Knox County, they are most likely directly connected to me.

My wife, Stephanie, and I still live in the very house we hand-built ourselves from the ground up with the sweat equity, muscle, and support 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 part-time produce clerk at the Rockland Hannaford, a per diem woodcutter in South Thomaston, and a commercial fishing crew member in Portland. I know what it’s like to wake up at 4:00 AM in a freezing Maine winter to work a slick deck just 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.

🎖️ The Military Journey: From E-1 to E-8

My calling to protect others began early. I enlisted in the military as a slick-sleeve Private (E-1) and retired after 21 years of combined service with the U.S. Army and the Maine Army National Guard as a First Sergeant (E-8).

During my service, I evolved through distinct specialties: from boots-on-the-ground teamwork in the Artillery, managing infrastructure projects as a Technical Engineer, and serving as a Logistician overseeing upwards of $100M in assets. From 2010 to 2011, I also served as the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) for Force Protection in Kabul, Afghanistan, managing a multinational team of 700 personnel providing real-world security.

Because I started at the absolute bottom doing the grunt work, I will never be a Sheriff who sits in a comfortable office while my frontline staff faces the world without support.

🧑‍🚒 A Lifetime of Community First Responding

I have always believed that if you live in a community, you show up for it. I dedicated 20 years to the fire service as a volunteer firefighter for the Town of St. George, earning my Firefighter II certification. I also spent 14 years serving my neighbors on the local St. George ambulance as a certified EMT-Basic, only stepping down when my law enforcement command roles required my full attention.

I have spent decades sitting on municipal, regional, and law enforcement task forces—like volunteering on the Board of Directors for Penquis—ensuring that Knox County has a strong voice at the table when tackling poverty and improving human services.

🎮 The "Regular Guy" Profile

When the uniform comes off, I am just a regular guy who loves our region. I am a proud father who helped raise a wonderful daughter, and a proud grandfather.

Stephanie and I share a deep passion for animal rescue, and our home is currently a true sanctuary for four rescue dogs. Food is my love language for friends and family; whether I am smoking a brisket or cooking massive meals for twenty neighbors, it is how I show hospitality. And yes—I am also an avid video gamer. It is a humanizing trait that shatters the unapproachable stereotype of a politician, and it is exactly how I unwind and keep my mind sharp after high-stress days.

⚖️ Balancing the Badge

Carrying the heavy responsibility of public safety takes a continuous emotional toll, and I believe in being completely honest about that struggle. My grounding partner, Stephanie, is highly attuned to me and unafraid to call me out when the psychological burden of the badge is wearing me down. True leadership means keeping my team safe, protecting our families across all 18 towns and unorganized territories, and leading with a servant's heart every single day.