Holly MatkinLimestone, ME – Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Staff Sergeant Bobbie Pelletier died in an off-duty snowmobile crash on Feb. 20, according to his department.
Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton announced the longtime deputy’s death in a Facebook post later that night.
No details about the circumstances of the crash have been released.
Sgt. Pelletier’s law enforcement career began in 1999, when he joined the Veazie Police Department (VPD), VPD Chief Mark Leonard told WFVX.
He attended the 93rd Municipal/County Basic Police School the following year.
“During his time at the academy, he was commended for his appearance, attention to detail, leadership, quality/quantity of work and was known to be reliable, dependable, and dedicated to helping others,” Chief Leonard told WFVX.
Sgt. Pelletier began serving the PCSO in 2008, according to his department.
He was promoted to the rank of corporal in 2015 and became a staff sergeant the following year.
Sgt. Pelletier was serving as supervisor of the Hermon deputy program at the time of his death and was well-known throughout Penobscot County, the sheriff’s office said.
Hermon Fire Chief Frank Roma said he and Sgt. Pelletier worked right across the hallway from one another in the Hermon Public Safety building, WFVX reported.
“He was an incredible practitioner of his craft,” Chief Roma said. “He was kind. He was gentle. He treated people in crisis as equally with respect as somebody who was just stopping in the station to ask for directions. He was just an incredible human being, and anybody that knew Bobbie would agree to that.”
Hermon Town Council Chair Steve Thomas described Sgt. Pelletier as a “fantastic” person, WABI reported.
“Everyone loved him, always had a smile on his face, just great to work with, very caring, compassionate,” Thomas said. “I think he’s a great role model for the sheriff’s department…He (was) such a warm individual. In his responsibility for the town of Hermon, he (was) in difficult situations, and he always found a way to de-escalate tough situations.”
Chief Roma said he has no doubt that Sgt. Pelletier will be remembered by the community he served, WABI reported.
“It will not be hard to keep his memory alive, because Bobbie was truly bigger than life. And when I say that you would never have met a nicer person – that’s not an exaggeration,” he said.
Sgt. Pelletier was laid to rest on Feb. 26, the PCSO said in a Facebook post.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Staff Sergeant Bobbie Pelletier, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
