Windham Police Department to add full-time traffic officer

Windham, Maine – The Windham Police Department announced on Monday, August 31, that it will create a full‑time traffic‑safety position beginning in January. The new officer will work 40 hours a week, allowing the department to devote a continuous block of time to traffic enforcement.

Police Chief Kevin Schofield said the department has been approved to add the role and that its purpose is to “be responsive to our community concerns, hopefully decrease the amount of traffic crashes that we have in town, (increase the) smooth flow of traffic, and increase a feeling of safety in our community.” The chief noted that traffic duties are currently performed by patrol officers when they are not handling other calls, and that the town’s traffic‑stop count is projected to exceed 3,200 in 2026.

The $54,000 needed to fund the position was approved by voters at a June town meeting. Although attendance at municipal meetings is typically low, Schofield said the department posted a video of the announcement on its Facebook page to reach a broader audience.

Schofield added that the officer will be reassigned from within the existing force, and that the department plans to grow its sworn staff from 31 to 32 positions in 2027, with a new hire replacing the traffic officer.

Windham’s location near the greater Portland area brings heavy commuter traffic onto its roads, creating congestion on main thoroughfares as well as on rural routes. A dedicated officer, Schofield explained, will enable the department to concentrate on those high‑traffic corridors while also enforcing traffic laws on less‑used roads.

The move aligns with the New England Drive to Save Lives Program, a collaboration between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and police agencies across the six New England states. Patrol Services Captain Jason Burke said the program will bring additional officers onto the road statewide.

Sgt. Jim Cook, who oversees grant administration for the department, said Windham’s traffic enforcement is supported by Bureau of Highway Safety grants that fund speed, impaired‑driving, distracted‑driving, and pedestrian‑safety initiatives. He noted that the town records more than 460 crashes annually, including incidents in parking lots and minor fender‑benders. “In severe cases, we could turn North Windham into one big parking lot,” Cook said.

The addition of a full‑time traffic officer is expected to strengthen enforcement, reduce crash frequency, and improve overall traffic flow throughout Windham.