Lewiston City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath has appointed longtime police veteran Carly Conley as the city’s next chief of police, selecting the 25-year Lewiston Police Department officer after months of public listening sessions, candidate reviews and guidance from a five-member advisory panel.
Conley, who has served in nearly every division at the department since joining in 2001, presented her vision as she accepted the top post at Maine’s second-largest municipal police force on Monday.
Kaenrath said the appointment reflects not only Conley’s extensive record but also the priorities residents expressed during the city’s months-long search process, citing repeated public concerns about safety downtown, youth violence, mental health challenges and the need to strengthen trust between police and immigrant communities.
The administrator held community meetings, one-on-one interviews, and listening sessions at City Hall throughout the fall as part of the selection process. He said stories from residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders, parents and students shaped the city’s expectations for the next chief.
Conley brings nearly a quarter-century of law enforcement experience, having worked in virtually every operational and administrative role at the Lewiston Police Department. She previously served on patrol and later worked with the Selective Enforcement Team before becoming the LPD’s Domestic Violence Coordinator. Her career includes collaboration with federal agencies, managing grants, and implementing safety measures with community organizations.
Promoted to detective in 2012, Conley handled major investigations involving arson, sexual assaults and homicide. She later joined the Community Resource Team as supervisor, served as a Patrol Sergeant, and moved into administrative positions overseeing accreditation, compliance and organizational planning. She was promoted to lieutenant in 2022.
City officials highlighted Conley’s record of operational expertise, crisis management and community engagement, saying her experience offers “ground-level, street-level, and systems-level” understanding of policing.
Conley outlined her priorities for the department’s next chapter, emphasizing prevention, intervention, support and enforcement in a strategy focused on accessibility, equity and community connection. She said public safety must be built through partnerships with residents and agencies across the city.
Her family joined her for the announcement, including her husband, a federal law enforcement officer, who participated in the pinning ceremony that marks the formal transfer of responsibility and trust.
Kaenrath also announced two upcoming public listening sessions where residents can share comments, ideas and concerns with the new chief. The first will be held December 10 at Geiger Elementary School. The second session will be scheduled in early December.
Conley becomes the first woman to lead the Lewiston Police Department in its 164-year history, a milestone Kaenrath described as a reflection of progress and possibility. She succeeds former Chief David St. Pierre, who retired in September after 33 years with the department.
