Fresh from Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Makenzi Strout, 23, traded her graduation cap for a service one to rejoin Boothbay Harbor Police Department (BHPD) as a full-time officer. 

“I enjoyed being at the Academy, which is weird, because most people hate it there,” said Strout. 

It meant staying overnight Monday-Friday for 18 weeks. And the days start early. Cadets roll in at 6:30 a.m., belongings in one arm to keep their gun hand free. Strout said a classmate who broke that rule was sentenced to complete 100 burpees as punishment. 

But that didn’t deter Strout, who called BHPD Chief Doug Snyder every Friday evening to excitedly regale what she’d learned.  

The Windsor native joined BHPD in January 2024 as a “green pin” officer, which has certain power limits, such as the inability to investigate serious injury car crashes or do pursuits. The academy fills those gaps so officers can upgrade to “blue pins” through simulated crash training and courses on how to safely “drive like a madman,” Strout explained.  

Prior to the academy, Strout gained law enforcement experience at Kennebec Corrections Facility, Maine General Hospital as a security officer, and during her field training at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.  

However, there was a time when Strout didn’t think highly of the profession. Both Strout’s parents struggled with drug addiction when she was a child, leading to multiple negative experiences with local police—including an instance where her father was arrested in front of her which, Strout said, is something they’re trained to avoid. 

It wasn’t until she got older and got to know officers on a more personal level that her opinions began to shift.  

“Seeing good cops that really do care about people, are there to help, and don’t abuse the badge and the powers that they have ... changed (my perspective).” 

Strout committed to her future career early, starting a high school course in police work at Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) at 16. “I just wanted to break that chain and help people who are in those situations (like my parents were).” 

This outlook is partly why Strout thinks it's crucial to remain personable when interacting with the community, as it can dispel misgivings and foster greater trust in the department. Strout has created several one-on-one relationships with locals, with some even inquiring about her whereabouts when she was at the academy. “When you know you're doing your job correctly and making a positive impact, it's pretty nice. Makes you want to keep doing it.” 

Human connection can be even more essential when you’re on the frontlines of someone else’s personal tragedy. Strout was still doing field officer training when she received a medical call while at Mama D’s in Boothbay Harbor with Lincoln County's Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin Dennison. It was a wellness check for an older man, who, they discovered upon arriving, had died. CPR was still administered; the first time Strout had done so outside of training. It was also her first time informing someone their spouse had passed.

“It can be emotional, but you just have to have that mindset of, ‘We're on duty. This is what you do’ to (be able to) keep going.” 

Strout feels fortunate the department has resources for mental health support, like therapists who specialize in law enforcement. She also cited mentors including Snyder, Dennison and Sheriff's Deputy Nathaniel Aronson who have taken the time to check in and support her throughout her journey. “We’re like a big family.” 

In her off-hours, Strout is at the gym working on her jiu-jitsu (a must with her smaller stature), visiting family, or occasionally tuning in to watch NCIS or Law & Order: SVU. As her career progresses, Strout hopes to work with drug addiction outreach and sexual assault advocacy.