Crowell named Auburn assistant city manager

AUBURN – Police Chief Phillip L. Crowell Jr. has been appointed as assistant city manager, effective Aug. 20.
Deputy Chief Jason Moen will be interim chief of police.
“Phil has served his community for 25 years as a police officer and the last 12 years as chief of police,” said City Manager Peter Crichton.

“I have enjoyed getting to know Phil and working with him and I have seen the outstanding leadership qualities that he epitomizes. I am looking forward to working with Phil in his new capacity. The opportunity that we all have to accomplish great things as a team is greater than ever.”
Crowell is a lifelong resident of Auburn and began his law enforcement career in 1986, as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He joined the Auburn Police Department as a patrol officer in 1993. He also was school resource officer, detective and deputy chief. In 2006, he was promoted to chief.
Crowell has been responsible for many initiatives that have ranked the Auburn Police Department among the best in the state, according to Crichton. Those include starting Auburn’s Citizens Police Academy, the first Somali Citizens Police Academy and the first Youth Court in the state.
In November 2007, the APD became one of only two accredited agencies in the state. In November 2013, the APD was the first law enforcement agency in the state to participate in the Gold Standard accreditation process. Crowell has served on numerous local and state board affiliations, including president of the Auburn Police Activities League, Promise Early Education Center board member, and past president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association.
He is actively involved with human trafficking initiatives locally and internationally, serving as a board member on the Foundation for Hope and Grace, co-founder of the Not Here – Justice in Action Network, and a member of the Maine Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Task Force.
He has received numerous awards recognizing his efforts to enhance law enforcement efforts, including Officer of the Year by the National Exchange Club; the city’s “Vision Award;” the “Excellence in Aging Award” by the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging for his efforts in implementing a Silver Alert System in the state; 2014 “Champion for Maine Children” Award; and the “Public leadership Award” by the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce.
In 2017, he was named “Chief of the Year” by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association for his outstanding law enforcement leadership. Crowell is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 218 and earned a BS degree in criminal justice from the University of Maine Augusta. He lives in Auburn with his wife and two children.
Moen, the new interim chief, has been a member of the department for 23, years, the last 12 as deputy chief.