Bennington chief

honored by Legion

BENNINGTON — Police Chief Paul Doucette received an award for “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” on Wednesday at the American Legion’s national convention in Indianapolis.

Doucette was recognized for his distinguished public service career, the Legion said in a statement.

He was named Bennington’s police chief and public safety director in 2010, and has since worked to strengthen ties between police officers and members of their community, the Legion said.

Doucette established foot patrols in specific high-risk residential areas, was instrumental in obtaining grants to purchase high-tech law enforcement tools, and provided care for formerly mistreated animals awaiting adoption.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Vermont College in Bennington in 1990 and received honors from the school as an outstanding alumnus and a distinguished alumnus. He graduated from the Vermont Police Academy in 1990 and from the FBI National Academy in 2005.

Doucette has also been recognized by the state, his community and his police department. He is highly visible as a volunteer in a number of organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, in which he reached the rank of Eagle Scout.