The top cop in the Maine State Police is stepping down after 33 years with the force.
Col. John Cote is leaving to take a position as Bison Transportation USA's eastern region director of safety with Hartt Transportation, according to the Maine State Police.
His last day on the force will be Sept. 30, the state police said Tuesday in announcing his retirement.
"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as a Maine Trooper for over three decades. I have worked with many outstanding people who will continue to make the Maine State Police a premiere agency dedicated to keeping Maine a safe place to live and visit," Cote said Tuesday.
Cote, an Aroostook County native, joined the state police in 1989, spending the majority of his career investigating homicides and suspicious deaths and served as the commanding officer for Troop F in Houlton. Prior to joining the state police, Cote was an Aroostook County sheriff's deputy.
Cote served two years as the agency's deputy chief before then-Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, nominated him to take the helm of the state police in April 2018. He replaced Robert Williams, who left the post the month before to become the head of security at Colby College in Waterville.
His departure comes just months after the state police announced a plan to restructure its force. At the center of the reorganization is a plan to consolidate the eight state police troops down to six — four regional troops, plus one unit patrolling the Maine Turnpike and another to patrol interstates 295 and 95 from Augusta to the Aroostook County border.
In June, Cote told reporters the changes are necessary after years of budget and staffing challenges.
Hartt Transportation Systems in Bangor was acquired by Bison Transportation USA's parent company, Winnipeg-based Bison Transport Inc., in January, according to its website.
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