A Westbrook police officer had traded in his motorcycle and badge for a classroom at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center.

On Aug. 12, Officer Dave Roubo retired after serving on the Westbrook Police Force for 18 years. But instead of kicking back, Roubo went right back to work, joining the staff of the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center to teach a new public safety program this fall.

Roubo said interest in the new class has been very strong. “We were one of the first classes to fill,” he said, adding that there is a waiting list of about eight to 10 students to join the class.

Roubo said the new program would concentrate on the three major areas of public safety. “It addresses the need to help students that are interested in pursuing a career in emergency medicine, fire science and police science,” said Roubo.

The course is designed as a multi-year course for students, he said. The first year provides an overview of all three areas, and the second year students will be doing more advanced work. “The first year is almost strictly an introduction course,” Roubo said. “I give them a taste out of each pie. They just have an opportunity to experience a little bit of everything.”

Since this is only the first year of the course, Roubo is still formulating plans for the curriculum for the second year. While those plans won’t be complete until next year, Roubo has definite ideas about the direction he wants to take the course.

“The second year, the students will be working out in the field,” he said. “They will have 10 hours of community service they will have to perform.”

In addition, Roubo said the second-year students would be doing some work alongside the police, fire and emergency medical departments in the city. They will not be fighting fires or doing police work, but Roubo said the idea is to give the kids the chance to get a first hand look at the reality of what happens in the field.

Westbrook Police Det. Sgt. Steve Lyons, who worked with Roubo for 14 years, said he thought Roubo’s program would be a benefit to the schools and the community. “I think it’s good for the community, and I think it’s good for law enforcement,” said Lyons. “I can’t think of anyone better to run that program than Dave Roubo.”

Roubo, who previously taught at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, said the program would be run on the same idea as a police academy, minus the drill instructors. “This is not going to be a high stress program,” he said. “There will be rotating positions for the students so they can understand and learn leadership-type things.”

The new program is a unique one, said Roubo. “I’m told we are one of the first in the state,” he said. “There are a number of law enforcement programs, and there are a few fire programs, but we are one of the first public safety programs.”

Roubo said he has received great support from the school as he gets his program off the ground and he is anxious to begin teaching. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Former Westbrook Police Officer Dave Roubo, who recently retired after 18 years with the department, will be teaching a new public safety course at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center this fall. Here Roubo demonstrates some of the equipment he will be using to teach the course.

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