Acting Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk was sworn in Tuesday as the permanent police chief by City Clerk Robin Patterson (left). City Manager James Bennett announced his nomination of Fisk earlier this month and said that the city likely wasted money in conducting a national search for a new police chief. The city council voted unanimously to approve the nomination.

Fisk has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience and first joined the Biddeford Police Department in 1980 as a patrol officer. She then worked as a sergeant at the Kennebunk Police Department and also worked for the York County Sheriff’s Office before returning to the Biddeford Police Department in 1998.

Before being named as deputy chief, Fisk served as director of Emergency Communications and Dispatch and also served as the department’s press information officer.

Click the link to read more about Fisk and her appointment: JoAnne Fisk nominated as Biddeford’s next police chief.

Randy Seaver photo

Carl Walsh, former director of the Biddeford Recreation Department, received a testimonial plaque and a "Key to the City" from Mayor Alan Casavant (left) at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting to honor his more than 27 years of service to the City of Biddeford.

From staff reports.