In the public eye: Windham Police Captain proud to serve and protect community

Editor’s Note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Windham’s newest police captain is no rookie and has spent more than 30 years in law enforcement.

Eugene 'Gene' Gallant has been promoted to serve as Captain
of Support Services for the Windham Police Department. He
will oversee the Criminal Investigation Division's four
detectives, one detective sergeant and three school resource
officers, along with payroll and training. He's spent more
than 30 years in law enforcement, including the past 27
years with the Windham Police.     

Last week, the Windham Police Department announced that Eugene “Gene” Gallant has been promoted to serve as Captain of Support Services for the Windham Police. In his new position, Gallant will oversee the Criminal Investigation Division’s four detectives, one detective sergeant and three school resource officers, along with payroll and training. He’s also a crash reconstructionist, drone pilot and a member of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department’s Dive Team.

Gallant has served with the Windham Police for the past 27 years and started his career with the Buxton Police Department in 1996. 

Originally from Scarborough, Gallant attended Southern Maine Technical College, now Southern Maine Community College. He earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement and went to work for the Scarborough Police Department as a reserve officer for several years before landing a full-time job with the Buxton Police.

“After three years with Buxton, I was looking for a larger department,” Gallant said. “Windham was attractive because of the projected growth of the town and department, as well as the work schedule. I was a patrol officer for 15 years before being promoted to detective in 2014. Along with crash reconstruction, drone pilot and member of the dive team, I have been a field training officer, drug recognition expert, and a member of the honor guard since its inception in 2003.”

He says that the variety of work is the best thing about working in law enforcement.

“No day is ever the same, which keeps the job interesting,” Gallant said. “Because of the nature of our work, we may have to drop whatever we are doing at a moment’s notice to respond to an emergency. The entire workday can change in an instant because of this. You could have personal plans after work or on days off that get cancelled because you must respond to one of these situations. This requires a great deal of flexibility.”

According to Gallant, the biggest misconception people may have about his work in law enforcement is the amount of work that goes into bringing a case to court.

“Whether a patrol officer arrests an intoxicated driver or a detective is following up on a child abuse investigation, it’s nothing like it is on TV,” he said. “The amount of time and documentation that goes into these cases can be overwhelming and at times can encompass several workdays.”

His most memorable moment while working for the Windham Police took place several years ago.

“In 2022, Windham Police Captain Jason Burke and I participated in the Wreaths Across America escort to Washington D.C. It was a rewarding and humbling experience to not only escort the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, but to participate in the many civic and memorial events along the way,” Gallant said. “Spending an entire day, along with hundreds of others, laying wreaths on the gravestones and memorials is something I will never forget.”

He says that his family is proud of the work he does, especially the relationship that has been built with the school department.

“Earning the respect and trust of youth is critically important, especially in these times,” Gallant said. “I have especially enjoyed working with the high school and being a part of their annual crime scene project.”

One thing that the public may not know about Gallant’s job is that he does not have just one job.

“This goes for many of the other officers in the Windham Police Department,” he said. “We all have our primary jobs then we take on other responsibilities in the way of specialty assignments such as evidence technicians, field training officers, firearms and use of force instructors etc. While these assignments require more work, we take on these assignments voluntarily because of their rewarding nature and to provide better service to the Windham community.”

Gallant said the most important thing that he has learned while working for the Windham Police is communication.

“Whether it is within the Police Department itself or dealing with the public, the ability to communicate effectively is essential,” he said. <