SACO — The city administrator has appointed Deputy Police Chief Raynald “Ray” Demers to be the new Saco police chief, pending city council confirmation Dec. 5.

If confirmed, Demers will begin the position on Jan. 1, as current police chief Bradley Paul is retiring at the end of the month.

City Administrator Kevin Sutherland made the announcement Wednesday, on Demer’s 56th birthday.

Demers has worked for the department for more than 30 years, starting out as a reserve officer in Camp Ellis. During his tenure, he was a sergeant for 22 years and became Deputy Chief in 2010.

“I’ve always liked helping people,” he said.

According to Demers, he enjoys being available for people when they need assistance and solving cases.

“It’s never the same thing two days in a row,” he said.

Sutherland said Demers was chosen after an extensive search process. The city received 50 applicants, five of which were from Maine and 36 were from outside New England, with applicants from as far away from New Mexico.

Sutherland said that during the interview process, it was clear that Demers is dedicated to Saco and that Demers is well respected within the community and has a strong connection with community leaders.

Sutherland said the results of a community survey showed that 87 percent of respondents were satisfied with community police relations, and he said he received “a plethora” of letters from community members in support of Demers.

“That type of pride tells me that hey, we’re doing the right thing,” said Sutherland.

Demers said he enjoys working in Saco, and maintaining a good relationship with the community is important. He introduced a citizen’s police academy, which is now an annual occurance.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.