By Allison Carrier
When admitting to himself that something needed to change in his life, Andrew Sholl looked to law enforcement. He joined the Scarborough Police Department in October 2021, enrolled in the Police Academy, and graduated the following December. It’s been four years, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Andrew grew up in Scarborough and continues to build his roots in his hometown, now with a family of his own. He found himself in a rut a couple years after college and entering the workforce in software solutions—the sedentary desk job was a far juxtaposition from his otherwise active lifestyle. As an avid runner (he ran cross country through high school and college), a job on his feet was more his speed.
A typical day begins at 4:30am. He’s learned that the quiet of the morning to take time for breakfast and coffee grounds him before work. By 6:00am, he’s in uniform and seated around a table in the Public Safety Building for their morning briefing. With him are the sergeant and one or two other officers he’ll be working with that day, plus the officers wrapping up their night shift. He catches up on some reports—some from the day before, others that have been open longer for investigation—and sets up his Cruiser for the day.
By 7:00am Andrew is out to begin patrolling. He is assigned an area of town to cover; today it’s Areas 2 and 4, covering Pine Point and the southwest end of Scarborough, as well as a section of Payne Road. He looks for traffic violations, like speeding offenses and registration violations. Through Dunstan, the speed limit drops from 45mph in Saco to 35mph in Scarborough, which can result in speeding in a high traffic area. He gives a lot of warnings and points out that 95% of these regular traffic stops are pleasant and respectful. “People might see traffic stops as a waste of time…questioning why we’re pulling someone over for being on their phone when there are bigger criminal acts we could be addressing,” he says. “But traffic enforcement is just as important.” It contributes to crash reduction and the visibility causes other drivers to correct their behavior. This proactive approach to policing means that Scarborough Police is really busy. They use traffic stops and concentrated details (coordinated efforts with multiple officers) to keep our roads safe. This teamwork is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.
There are definitely challenges, though. Some investigations, like domestic violence calls, are difficult not only because of the subject matter but also because they don’t always have straightforward resolution. Other dispatch calls that he responds to on any given day can be a car accident, a department store theft, individuals facing adverse challenges, a dead seagull, lost or found dog, and so on. “I’m always changing gears and adapting to what the day brings,” he says. Andrew has had a lot of growth as an officer over his four years. He’s polished his professionalism and knowing when to be more assertive. He’s learned that sometimes he needs to be a listener, or to be a mediator to diffuse a situation.
The feelings of a busy day (which are frequent) can spill into his life after his 4:00pm shift ends if he’s not intentional about separation. He wants to be in a fresh headspace for his wife (a nurse who works the night shift) and their almost two-year-old son. He’ll clear his head with a workout or a run. “It takes a bit for my mind to settle down and be back at home.” It’s paid off in more ways than one—he recently completed his third marathon this spring, and Jiu-jitsu training has been good for self-defense if someone is being combative. He’s also a defensive tactics instructor at the police academy and a member of Scarborough’s SWAT team. At the end of the day, Andrew feels grateful to be contributing to the place he’s always called home.
Allison Carrier is Marketing and Communications Manager for the Town of Scarborough.
(Photo courtesy of Town of Scarborough)
