DMR bid farewell to Col. Cornish in early April. DMR photo.
Colonel Jon Cornish retired as chief of the Marine Patrol Bureau in the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) on April 5. Cornish served in the Bureau for 34 years, entering soon after graduating from college with a degree in criminal law. “It’s bittersweet,” Cornish said in an interview shortly before his departure. “I am going to miss the people at DMR, the fishermen who call me.” He is succeeded in the post by Lieutenant Jay Carroll.
Colonel Cornish began his career in the Marine Patrol in 1985 as an
Officer. In 2001 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and in 2004 to
Lieutenant in Division I, which includes the Maine coast from Kittery to
the St. George River. Cornish was promoted to Colonel in 2015. “I’m
grateful for Colonel Cornish’s decades of exceptional service,” said
Commissioner Keliher. “He has shown great commitment and judgement
throughout his career and has guided the Marine Patrol with a steady
hand as Colonel.”
At the time he graduated from college, one of
Cornish’s relatives was working for DMR in the anadromous fish office
and mentioned to him that there were good jobs to be had in the Marine
Patrol Bureau. “I had no idea what the Bureau was,” Cornish admitted. “I
applied and that’s where I ended up.” While he had always been
interested in law enforcement, becoming a Marine Patrol officer required
a certain period of apprenticeship. During his first year in the field
he was patrolling out of Rockland when the boat broke down during an
October storm. The rising waves eventually began to swamp the vessel.
The crew called for the Coast Guard and a helicopter was sent out but
before it reached them, a boat from Rockland managed to reach the boat.
“I thought, ‘Is this it for me?’ There’ve been other rough times at sea
but nothing as bad as that,” Cornish said.
Throughout his years at
the Bureau, Cornish found mentors who helped him grow professionally. “I
had great support early on from Ron Muir, he’s gone now. And Jim Peva
was my first sergeant when I was in Bucksport. He certainly gave me the
benefit of the doubt,” Cornish laughed. When Cornish was stationed in
Harpswell Dave Mercier served as a mentor as well as his supervisor, Dan
Morris. “I have to mention Joe Fessenden. He was Colonel throughout my
whole career and he was instrumental in my becoming Colonel,” Cornish
said. “Rene Cloutier has been incredibly supportive. He has a great
level of common sense that I wish I had!”
What these men all have in
common, according to Cornish, is a deep respect for the commercial
fishing industry, a respect that they passed on to the young Cornish.
It’s that recognition of the tenacity and independence of Maine
fishermen in whatever fishery they pursue that Cornish has tried to
instill in the officers that have served under him.
“The majority of
fishermen are the salt of the earth, hardworking and honest,” Cornish
said. “There’s a small percentage that aren’t. Those are the ones we
spend the most time dealing with.” Over the years Cornish has overseen
the prosecution on many violations related to lobster fishing,
everything from molesting traps to harvesting hundreds of female
lobsters. He recognizes that most lobstermen appreciate the Bureau’s
efforts to punish those who break the rules, keeping the playing field
as even as possible for everyone. “Most officers understand that they
are overseeing people’s livelihoods. They take it seriously. After all,
we are public servants,” he said.
Cornish has no definitive plans
for the future, other than to enjoy the Maine summer. “I have a lot of
confidence in my successors. We have great people here. It’s important
that the Bureau continue to grow and head in the right direction.”
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