FALMOUTH – Dr. William “Bill” B. McClaran, 89, a renowned member of the Maine Criminal Justice community, died peacefully in Falmouth on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, shortly following his 89th birthday.

Born on Oct. 4, 1935, in Grand Rapids Mich. to Lois and William McClaran, Bill was a graduate of Grand Rapids High School, serving as captain of the varsity football team before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, serving active duty from April 1955 to April 1957.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Bill embarked on a career in law enforcement, beginning in his hometown as a uniformed patrolman with the Grand Rapids Police Department from 1957-62 while earning his B.S. in Police Administration from Michigan State University (1963). From 1963-66, Bill served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now DEA), assigned to offices in Philadelphia and Detroit. Bill’s specialization was undercover assignments as Anthony “Sonny” Sonetti, as he became one of the bureau’s most decorated agents and earned Senior Agent status.

In 1966, Bill became the Chief of Police for the Harvey (Ill.) Police Department at the age of 30, where he served until 1968, before assuming the role of Police Chief in Benton Harbor (Mich.) where he served until 1972.

In July 1972, Bill and his family relocated to Portland, where he assumed duties as the Chief of Police, becoming the youngest person to hold the position in the city’s history, and the first to be hired from outside the city of Portland. Serving as Chief until 1978, Bill helped to open the home of the police department’s current headquarters on Middle Street and is credited with modernizing the department’s philosophy with an emphasis on community policing.

Upon leaving the Portland Police Department, Bill transitioned to a career in education, serving as a professor of Criminal Justice at what is now Southern Maine Community College from 1978 until his retirement in 2016. His guardian approach to service in policing was passed on to hundreds of students who embarked on noble careers in the profession.

Bill earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Maine in 1977 and his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Columbia Pacific University in 1987.

Bill developed a profound love of Ireland, from where his ancestors immigrated generations before, and enjoyed sharing its culture with family and friends over the years with trips to Killarney in County Kerry, and his favorite pub, O’Donoghue’s Public House.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lois and William McClaran; sister Joan Ruggirello, brothers-in-law Frank Ruggirello and Bill Force; nephew Mark Bloomfield; and beloved wife, Mary, who passed away in 2009 after a brave battle with cancer.

He is survived by his daughters Patricia (husband, Michael) Ybarra of Maryland, Lynn (husband, Kevin) Moriarty of Connecticut and son, Will (wife, Devon) McClaran of Florida; grandchildren Patrick Anderson, Erin (husband, Tom) Queno, Michael (wife, Shannon) Moriarty, Nora and Willow McClaran; great-grandchildren Anthony, Ava, and Matthew Queno; nephews Christian (wife, Kim, sons Tycho and Duncan) Force of New York, Greg Bloomfield and Scott Bloomfield of Michigan; niece Hope (husband, Carl, daughters Lila and Brooke) Morris of Massachusetts; and sister-in-law Christine (partner, Tom) Force of Yarmouth.

Details for a celebration of life will be shared by the family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to:

the Maine Irish

Heritage Center or:

the Alzheimer’s

Association