After 11 years in uniform, Bill Andrew of the Windham Police Department was promoted to the rank of sargeant last week.

“It feels great,” said Andrew humbly. A Windham native, he originally signed on as a communications dispatcher in 1993 and earned his law enforcement degree at Southern Maine Technical College in spring 1996.

He is also the town’s K-9 officer. Lt. David DeGruchy said Andrew will continue to work with police dog Grinko until the dog retires and a new K-9 team replaces them.

DeGruchy said the sergeant position opened for Andrew because the department created an administrative sergeant position that handles things like scheduling, training and equipment maintenance.

“This is an additional position the town has been looking at for some time,” said DeGruchy. He said one of the existing sergeants will be moved to this new position and Andrew will take the vacant position.