FARMINGTON — The police officer who shot a man said to have been charging at him with a knife Saturday is described as a bright, dedicated professional.

Officer Ryan Rosie, 27, is on paid administrative leave as several investigations get under way, police Chief Jack Peck said Monday.

“I know it has affected him,” Peck said.

When Rosie went outside the police station at about 11 a.m. Saturday to assist Justin Crowley-Smilek, Peck said Crowley-Smilek pulled a large knife from his pocket, raised it and moved aggressively toward Rosie, who shot and killed him.

Crowley-Smilek of Farmington died from multiple gunshot wounds and the manner is homicide, which means that death was caused by another, Mark Belserene, administrator of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maine.

Peck described Rosie as a bright young man who has a degree in criminal justice. He did very well on his oral boards and written testing to become a police officer for Farmington in June.

He is professional and takes his job serious, Peck said.

“He seems to be a passionate, caring person,” he said.

Rosie is scheduled to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in January 2012.

After reviewing everything he knows about the incident, Peck said he doesn’t believe there was anything Rosie could have done differently.

He said he will investigate whether there were any violations of department policies and procedures. Two other investigations are also being conducted, one by the Attorney General’s Office and one by a shooting review board, Peck said.

The Farmington Police Department has come under fire since people learned that Crowley-Smilek was a veteran who served in Afghanistan.

Crowley-Smilek’s father, Michael, said previously that his son had suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective disorder and delusions because he was not taking medication.

Justin Crowley-Smilek has had several run-ins with the police.

In one instance, Crowley-Smilek was accused of beating a man with a flashlight after the man declined to give him a ride on Jan. 8. Within a week, Crowley-Smilek was arrested again on a bail check. According to Farmington police, they found a machete and marijuana plants growing at his residence.

Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson wrote a bail request in January to the court after Crowley-Smilek was arrested a few days later on a violation of conditions of release.

He also listed some of Crowley-Smilek’s record: Carrying concealed weapon, April 22, 2010; trafficking in dangerous knives, Aug. 6, 2009; carrying concealed weapon, Nov. 2, 2009; false public report, Aug. 28, 2008; and operating under the influence on Jan. 10, 2008, and Aug. 22, 2007.

dperry@sunjournal.com