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Sheriff's Bio

Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Mark N. Dion, Esq.

Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce

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Sheriff Mark N. Dion, Esq.
Sheriff Mark N. Dion, Esq.
Email Sheriff Dion

Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce
Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce
Email Chief Deputy Joyce

Sheriff's Office Home>Sheriff>Sheriff Dion's Bio

Sheriff Mark N. Dion, Esq.

Sheriff Mark N. Dion was first elected in November 1998. He had previously served as Deputy Chief of the Portland Police. During the course of his twenty one years as a police officer for the city of Portland, Sheriff Dion worked in a variety of patrol, administrative and investigative capacities.

Sheriff Dion was honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Parade magazine for his commitment to civil rights enforcement and education. He was also cited by President Clinton and then US Senator George Mitchell for his exemplary leadership in the implementation of community policing practices in the city of Portland.

Sheriff Dion has successfully led the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office to secure national accreditation for the operation of the jail and delivery of correctional health services. He has been a vocal advocate for the proper treatment of the mentally ill within the criminal justice system while serving on the Legislature’s sentencing commission.

Sheriff Dion has also led the State of Maine in the implementation of a focused attack on the issue of motor vehicle operators driving on our highways with suspended licenses. His Habitual Offender Strike Force has captured national attention while taking over 300 suspended drivers off the road.

Sheriff Dion received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Maine. He was awarded his Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from Antioch College. Sheriff Dion earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Maine’s School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of Maine.

Sheriff Dion was also selected to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s John F Kennedy School of Government as a Henry Brooks Fellow. He also attended the National Sheriff’s Institute where he was elected President by his professional peers. He has also been board certified as a Correctional Executive by the American Correctional Association. Sheriff Dion has also served as president of the Maine Sheriff’s Association.

Sheriff Dion is a resident of Portland. He is married to his Cheryl, an emergency room nurse. They have two daughters, Ashley, a graphic designer and Brittany a journalism student at a college in New York.