Ex-North Hampton police chief Kathryn Mone lands new job in Maine

YORK, Maine — About a month after former North Hampton Police Chief Kathryn Mone retired from New Hampshire law enforcement, she has been hired in Maine, as the major of operations at the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Mone’s appointment was confirmed Wednesday night at the York County Commissioners’ meeting, with a start date of April 10, according to York County Sheriff William L. King, Jr.

“She has a wide breadth of experience; and we’re very, very fortunate to have her with us,” King said in a recent interview. “She’s a graduate of the FBI Academy, and she’s going to bring a lot of good things to this office. I’m sure she’s going to be very successful here. We’re going to be a better agency because of her.”

According to King, Mone will be one of three majors in the department with 28 deputy sheriffs when she arrives on Monday.

“She’s in DC,” King said. “She was invited by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to attend the National Office of Safety and Wellness Group workshop.”

When she’s on the job, King said, she will be the commander of the patrol unit with the rank of major.

“In her role, she’ll be responsible for overseeing the entire patrol division, handling scheduling. Meeting with communities,” King said.

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One of the largest counties geographically in the nation, York County is 989 square miles in size comprising a total of 29 cities and towns. The Sheriff’s Office is divided into three divisions: Corrections, which encompasses the 298-bed county jail; civil process service and the patrol division.

“We provide police services to 14 towns that don’t have their own police departments,” King said. “Due to a shortage of staff, we contract with the Maine State Police, which handles five of those communities.”

That leaves about 550 square miles for the Sheriff’s Office to patrol in the remaining communities with a winter population of about 30,000 to serve, King said, though that more than doubles in the summers.

“We range from 27,000 to 32,000 calls for service each year,” King said.

Mone said she is ready for the new challenge.

“I’m looking forward to working with, getting to know and building trust with all the people in the sheriff’s department and all the communities we serve,” she said.

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Mone left North Hampton amid controversy

Mone said in recent weeks she’s received many notes from North Hampton residents.

“I want to thank them for all their good wishes,” she said.

Mone, 42, spent her entire career in law enforcement, 16 years of it in her hometown of Durham where she rose to the rank of sergeant before being hired as North Hampton’s chief at the age of 37 about five years ago.

She left North Hampton unexpectedly, retiring effective March 1. Due to a clause in her separation agreement with the town, neither she nor local officials can discuss why she left.

However, emails between Mone and North Hampton Town Administrator Mike Tully show she and the Select Board were at odds over the discipline of an officer in her department.

Previous story: Details of ex-police chief's dispute with town leaders over officer revealed in emails

North Hampton’s Police Department has witnessed a major exodus. Six officers, including Mone, left for other law enforcement agencies in recent months, three since Mone stepped down.

Interim Police Administrator David Kurz, a consultant with Municipal Resources Inc, was hired to handle day-to-day matters in North Hampton PD, as the town embarks on replenishing its ranks and finding its next chief.

Mone graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice after developing an interest in law enforcement while in high school as part of the Explorers program. She got her first job as an officer in nearby Madbury before graduating from college. Later hired in Durham, she earned a master's of public administration degree from the Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH, as well.

The Mone family is ensconced in law enforcement. Her husband, Timothy Mone, is a lieutenant with the Seabrook Police Department. The couple has two sons, ages 9 and 12.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: North Hampton NH ex-police chief joins York Sheriff's Office