Biddeford swears in new Assistant Fire Chief

BIDDEFORD — Newly appointed Assistant Fire Chief Edward Dexter may have just begun the job on Thursday, but he’s a familiar face in the city.

Dexter is replacing Paul Lebrecque, who recently retired. He came to the position after 26 years in the Portland Fire Department, where he was Captain of Ems Operations. He also served for 12 years as a reserve officer for the Biddeford Police Department until getting sworn in as assistant chief last week.

Dexter began his career in firefighting shortly after graduating from Thornton Academy, and worked for the Saco Fire Department for six years.

“It’s been a passion of mine since I was a kid,” he said, recalling pictures if family photo collections of him as a young boy in a fire fighter costume at a children’s museum.

Dexter’s love for firefighting is still strong, and he comes to the new position with enthusiasm. It’s a job that can present challenges and a big adrenaline rush, but also is a way to help people and connect with the community.

“They say fire service is a brotherhood, and that’s a true statement,” he said. “You’re with these people 24/7. You have meals with them, and then you’re out on the street counting on each other – you make sure you have their back and they make sure they have yours.”

He said he was fortunate to work with a good group of people in Portland, and he’s excited to work with the staff at the Biddeford fire department. Having worked in partnership with the fire department as a police reserve officer, Dexter said he can rest assured that he’ll be working with an outstanding group of people.

When Dexter was sworn in at the July 6 City Council meeting, his daughter Madison pinned his badge, keeping with a family tradition – his daughter Courtney pinned his badge when he graduated from the Police Academy.

At the meeting, Mayor Alan Casavant noted the number of both police department and fire department staff in the room. Casavant said he had called the police department earlier this year because there was a woman in front of his house who was disorientated and had a mental health issue. Dexter showed up, and Casavant said he was struck by his kindness and professionalism and the calming effect he had on someone in distress.

Dexter said among his goals as assistant chief are helping to get the department fully staffed and getting new people trained. The members of the fire department have weathered the pandemic while being short staffed, and he wants to make sure they are well taken care of.  A fire department can have the nicest, most state-of-the-art equipment, but if the staff aren't taken care of, the department can’t function at its best, he said.

Dexter enjoys photography and taking photos, and he and his family like to go to Acadia in October to recharge.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.