Milo police Sgt. Damien Pickel (center) listens as his attorney N. Laurence Willey (left) speaks on Pickel’s behalf during a July, 26, 2011 press conference to discuss the dismissal of charges of domestic assault against Pickel. Listening at right is former Maine State Trooper Hank Dusenbery, a private investigator on the case. Milo Town Manager Jeff Gahagan confirmed Thursday, Aug. 4, that Pickel was reinstated at a selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday night. MILO, Maine — Milo police Sgt. Damien Pickel is back on the force after being cleared of a domestic violence assault charge.
Milo Town Manager Jeff Gahagan confirmed Thursday that Pickel, 42, was reinstated at a selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday night.
The decision was unanimous, Gahagan said.
Pickel, a former New York City police detective, was hired as a full-time officer in Milo in October 2009, and had been unemployed since he was arrested in March after his estranged wife reported that she had been assaulted by him in mid-February.
Pickel subsequently resigned from the force after being placed on unpaid administrative leave after his arrest. The Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the domestic violence assault charge against him on July 11.
