The new Buxton police chief, appointed last week by selectmen by a slim margin, has an immediate challenge – filling vacancies.

“I’m five people short now,” Chief Mike Grovo, 51, said in his office Monday.

He said the department – rocked this year by stinging criticism from departing officers – should have eight on the force full time.

Grovo, who joined Buxton police in June of 2006, fills the position left vacant when Jody Thomas quit last summer after 16 years as chief. He was selected for the job, which pays $58,000, Dec. 3 from three finalists.

In a 3-2 vote, selectmen made the appointment after meeting in executive session for an hour with Bob Schwartz, executive director of Maine Chiefs of Police Association, who conducted a background investigation of Grovo.

Selectmen Dan Collomy, Linda Pulsoni and Bob Libby favored Grovo’s appointment while Cliff Emery and Jean Harmon, chairwoman of the board, opposed.

From the public podium at last week’s meeting, Buxton resident Steve Anthony asked Emery and Harmon to explain their votes.

“I’m not going to explain my no vote,” Harmon responded.

Nor did she offer any further comment when contacted this week.

“None at this time,” Harmon said.

But Emery offered an explanation at the meeting last week.

“When we interviewed, I didn’t think he was the best candidate,” he said.

Collomy said Grovo was his choice for chief. “Mike knows the town. He knows the people,” Collomy said. “He knows the hot spots.”

Cpl. Kim Emery and Grovo have shared acting police chief duties since Thomas’ departure.

As a part of Thomas’ July 2 resignation, the town paid her $46,000 in severance pay. Her salary was $62,000.

The department has come under scorching criticism from officers who have resigned.

“Elected officials have focused on conflict and personal gain,” Officer Christine A. LaBranche, 26, wrote in her strongly worded Oct. 28 resignation letter to selectmen. That created “circumstances that have dramatically and negatively affected our police force,” she said.

LaBranche, an officer with the Buxton department for five years, recently started with the Westbrook Police Department.

In July, Cpt. Emery resigned, saying she felt her opportunities to succeed had been restricted and the department had been “irrevocably” damaged.

“I can no longer work for a town who would allow personal vendettas to destroy the integrity of a well-respected and well run police department,” Emery wrote in her letter.

A month later, she returned to her job.

Grovo has been a life-long law enforcement officer. He grew up in Scarborough and graduated from Scarborough High School in 1975. He then earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement in 1977.

He started in the late 1970s as a reserve officer in Scarborough. John Flaherty was his first chief and Grovo grew up with Scarborough’s present chief, Robert Moulton.

Grovo became full time in 1980 and rose to the rank of sergeant.

“I wanted to be a supervisor and be a chief someday,” Grovo said.

He said Flaherty and a later chief, Hollis Dixon, inspired him to pursue that desire. Grovo said he’s ready.

“I’ve learned patience and understanding,” he said.

Moulton and Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard Tuesday praised Grovo.

“I think he’ll serve the community well up there,” Moulton said.

And Shepard, who served on Buxton’s selection committee, agreed. “I’m sure he’ll do a good job for citizens of Buxton,” Shepard said.

Grovo has two teenage sons, Ben, 19, and Andy, 12, a Bonny Eagle Middle School student. The new chief said his wife, Jeannie Grovo, and his whole family is supportive.

When he’s home, he tries to leave the job at the police station. He watched TV with his wife and a son on Saturday. “You have to recharge your batteries,” he said.

But there was one case that he said “followed” him. He was the lead investigator and worked with the FBI on the case of Buxton teenager Coreen Wiese, who disappeared in November 2006. Her body was found several months later in the Saco River.

“I ran on very little sleep during that time,” Grovo said. “It was a tough, bizarre case. I couldn’t let go of it.”

“I think of the family during the holidays,” Grovo said.

As chief, he is advocating for more police interaction with the public and wants officers to stop at schools to talk with teachers and students.

“I want the public to feel free to contact us,” Grovo said.

Mike Grovo became the new police chief in Buxton last week after being approved in a 3-2 vote last week. He has been serving as interim chief since the town’s former chief, Jody Thomas, resigned this summer.

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