O’Malley Contributed / John O’Malley

SCARBOROUGH — Deputy Chief John O’Malley retired on Feb. 4, after 30 years with the Scarborough Police Department.  

O’Malley said he was drawn to a law enforcement career due to the way he felt, how honorable the profession was and a profession he could be proud of.  

“I have been amazingly fortunate to have wonderful mentors for every part of my career that have allowed me to accomplish these things, without these people none of this would have been possible,” O’Malley said. 

He began his career with Scarborough as a reserve officer at the age of 25 in 1992. During his time as a reserve officer with the police department he began to have some health issues. When he applied to be a full-time officer in 1993, he had just finished chemo and radiation after battling Hodgkin’s Disease.  

For two years and after three application processes, O’Malley was officially promoted to a full-time officer. He eventually worked his way through the ranks from a patrol officer to being promoted to deputy chief in 2019. 

Over his three decades with the department, O’Malley has had numerous career accomplishments. He attended the FBI National Academy as one of only three sergeants in the 350-person class and was the only officer from Maine. He served as a Cadre at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and assisted in the training of new officers for the entire state. O’Malley was selected as the first municipal officer to be assigned to the Maine State Police Emergency Vehicle Operation Course as an instructor. Out of a group of officers, he was selected to represent the State of Maine in President Bush’s second inaugural parade.  

O’Malley completed his college degree and then went on to receive a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration. He has been an instructor at Husson University since 2012 and plans on being more involved at the university during his retirement as well as spending more time golfing and riding his motorcycle.