by Geoff Fox
Rick Cook has only been with the Hancock Police Department since 2017, but has quickly risen from officer to sergeant last October and now to police chief.
In a surprise motion during a special meeting on January 2, Town Councilman Tim Smith made a motion to promote Cook, but his motion didn’t reach a vote.
The following week, Smith made the same motion and officials unanimously approved Cook’s promotion.
“I think you’ve done an outstanding job for us as a sergeant,” Smith said to Cook. “I you’ll make an excellent Chief for us.”
Councilman Leo Murray said Cook has been doing a great job on the police force.
Cook will be installed and sworn in as the new Chief of Police during the regularly scheduled town meeting in February.
