Replacing Chief Caton

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Like everyone else in Farmington who knew Police Chief Richard Caton, I was deeply saddened to learn that he had succumbed to his battle with cancer at the unfair age of 52. He was a wonderful man who made Farmington a better place to live.

My acquaintance with Chief Dick Caton was purely a professional one. When I first came to Farmington in 1985 to be the county’s lone assistant district attorney, one of my first jury trials was an OUI case of Chief Caton’s. He was a patrolman then and we were both younger men, but watching him testify in that case had an effect on me that, even after 25 years, still colors the way I view our justice system today.

As Dick was cross-examined in that case, he openly and easily admitted all of the things the driver had done well, and he was as gracious with the defense attorney as he had been with the defendant it had been his job to arrest.

I’m not sure if I had even met Dick Caton until the morning of that trial, but as he testified I was struck most by his overriding sense of decency. And when the jurors in that case returned with a guilty verdict after just a short period of deliberation, it was clear that this virtue had not been lost on them either.

I’ve changed jobs since 1985, but ever since then Chief Caton continued to serve the public with that same great sense of decency. Whether someone was a victim or a suspect, he treated them fairly and with compassion, and as an attorney you knew that if Dick told you something that having it in writing wasn’t necessary.

At some point the town of Farmington will need to think about finding a new police chief, and there are certainly many credentials that applicants for the job might have. As for me, I don’t care so much about someone with a masters degree in Criminal Justice or who speaks three languages or spent 20 years with some FBI task force.

I think maybe the ad could just say: Decent man wanted. Chief Richard Caton was certainly much more than that, but he knew that law enforcement, first and foremost, was dealing with people and he treated all of them well.

I know that replacing Chief Caton will be difficult, but I think if the town of Farmington can find someone who understands that, it will be a good place to start.

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5 Comments

  1. Mr. Hanstein, thank you. I could not have said it better myself. As a victim of a violent crime my first year in living in Farmington, I was terrified of speaking to the police. Chief Caton was kind, compassionate, and above all else, willing to respect my rights, my boundaries, and my wants and needs in what he understood was a difficult situation for me. This year, he spoke at the Peace in our Families annual March for Violence-Free Communities, and again proved himself to be, above all else, a “decent man.” Farmington has lost a great man and a great police chief. I pray he finds peace.

  2. Dickie was a decent, fair, and honest man which was based on his upbringing and the fact that he never forgot where he came from. So yes Woody, your point of eventual replacement and who ends up getting this position should be based on the qualities that Dickie lived and worked by. This may not be that easy to find.

  3. Yes it is going to be very hard to replace Richard Caton but it can be done and the person should come from in the ranks and file of the officers that are already in the force and know how Richard worked. I feel Jack Peck has the same ideas and alot of Richards traits for kindness and would make a great chief for Farmington. Richard we all miss you very much and can only say you are pain free and in a better place now freeof all suffering. You were much to young to leave us all especially your family but God chose you to be one of his angel. To Melinda and the family please accept my sincere condolences on your loss and may God grant you all peace in this trying time. You are all in my prayers and thoughts. God Bless you all

  4. Each and every year at Farmington Town Meeting, Chief Caton would stand and respectfully address my endless attack of Farmington’s expensive police force. Few knew that I had known and been friends with Dickie for many years, mostly through family connections.

    Sometime before his last town meeting, we spoke of his illlness while in his office and both agreed that it could not come between our mutual agreement to disagree respectfully. Something many need to understand in today’s polictical climate.

    Dickie and I never took the town discussions personaly and actually joked on many occasions of the predictive results of the vote. I never really thought that Dickie would not be back, but I remember now how ill he looked as he left that last town meeting and somehow wishing I hadn’t made him work so hard that day to defend his very professional department.

    I heard from him recently through email, and as always, he was upbeat and friendly. I will miss him dearly, as so many others will.

    I hope that our town shows him the honor that he deserves.

    My heart felt sorrow goes out to Melinda and his wonderful family.

  5. To live as gently as I can; To be, no matter where, a man; To take what comes of good or ill, And cling to faith and honor still To do my best, and let that stand, The record of my brain and hand; And then,should failure come to me Still work and hope for victory. To have no secret place wherein I stoop unseen to shame or sin; To be the same when I’m alone As when my every deed is known; To live undaunted, unafraid Of any step that I have made; To be without pretense of sham Exactly what men think I am. To leave some simple mark behind To keep my having lived in mind; If enmity to aught I show, To be an honest, generous foe; To play my little part, not whine That greater honors are not mine. This, I believe, is all I need Formy philosophy and creed, by Edgar A. Guest

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