VASSALBORO — Five local police officers were recognized Wednesday by the Maine State Police for risking their lives to protect each other and their community last August to stop an armed and dangerous fugitive who tried to kill them in Mexico.

Mexico officer Dean Benson and Trooper Paul Casey, a former Rumford officer, received bravery awards for killing the gunman during a dangerous gun battle that caused an hourslong standoff on Main Street. Rumford Sgt. Douglas Maifeld, fellow officer Matt Desroches and Dixfield officer Dustin Broughton received meritorious service awards for their roles in the incident.

Casey couldn’t attend the ceremony held at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, because he was assisting state police with a manhunt in Parkman for an alleged murderer.

State Police Col. Robert Williams asked each of the officers to the stage to be recognized and receive their awards. Once on stage, Williams read from a prepared statement about the Aug. 17 incident in which Steven Piirainen, 52, of Paris, stole a pickup truck in Norway and led police officers on a nearly 40-mile chase north to Main Street in Mexico.

Williams said the chase quickly escalated into a dangerous pursuit when Piirainen fired shots at them as he headed toward Rumford.

“It is these brave Maine police officers who ended that chase, got into a gun battle with the driver, and protected each other’s lives and many members of the public,” Williams said.

He said the chase ended at the Circle K convenience store and gas station in Mexico when Piirainen rammed the gas pumps, hoping for an explosion.

“When that didn’t happen, he fired multiple shots, hitting two  police cruisers and barely missing some of these officers, who began returning fire,” Williams said.

“The gunman was shot and killed and this dangerous gun battle was over and everyone was safe,” he said. “Professional, calm, determined, were the actions of these officers against a man wanting to kill them and anyone else.”

After the ceremony — which honored other officers, state police troopers, crime and forensic investigators and citizens — the local officers, their families, community members and town officials, police chiefs and fellow officers went outside for photographs.

“For all of the officers, it’s a well-deserved recognition for what they did that night,” John Madigan, Rumford and Mexico town manager, said while watching them. “What’s impressive to me is it shows that all of them are local officers all working together to accomplish a major achievement. They must have been pretty scared at the time.”

Madigan added, “The three towns’ police officers all teamed up together to take down a dangerous criminal. I’m very proud of them all.”

Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter said the officers’ efforts were “a great example of other communities and law enforcement agencies working together.”

“When one calls for help, we all respond,” Carter said. “These officers recognized today, who were there, they did an excellent job. They kept themselves and the community safe and the awards are very well-deserved.”

Mexico police Chief Roy Hodsdon said the five officers’ pursuit began in Dixfield. Broughton initiated a traffic stop on Piirainen who stopped, much to Broughton’s surprise, Dixfield police Chief Jeff Howe said. Broughton left his cruiser with his rifle to arrest Piirainen at gunpoint, but Piirainen sped off. Broughton got back inside and radioed for help as the pursuit resumed.

Hodsdon said Casey arrived behind Broughton before the Mexico-Dixfield line. Benson joined the pursuit by Roland’s Automotive garage in Mexico.

Benson said he hurried toward Broughton to back him up. “We try to stick together.”

Maifeld threw out spike mats opposite the Labonville store right in front of the stolen truck and was shot at by Piirainen, Benson said. 

Hodsdon said Desroches used his cruiser to prevent Piirainen from crossing the Androscoggin River and entering the Rumford paper mill yard, and then joined the pursuit.

Hodsdon said that neither Benson nor Casey would admit they did anything other than their jobs in protecting fellow officers and the community.

“But it’s something that to me means everything,” Hodsdon said. “Because if it wasn’t for their bravery, things could have been very different, if not for officer Benson and Trooper Casey stepping up to protect citizens and fellow officers.”

When Piirainen neared the Circle K store, he suddenly hit the brakes and opened fire on Broughton’s cruiser.

“We didn’t expect him to stop so abruptly and start firing at us,” Benson said. “Things like that aren’t very expected.”

They thought Piirainen would continue into Rumford or head north on Route 17 toward Roxbury.

Benson said Piirainen rammed the store’s gas pumps, but very slowly, and they didn’t explode.

Broughton said he braked suddenly and was rear-ended by Benson’s cruiser.

“Soon after that, I heard the first gunshot and I got down and I started to hear the rounds impact into the Dixfield cruiser,” Broughton said, “and then the other officers returned fire. I didn’t know where everyone was, so I stayed inside my car. I didn’t want to get hit by friendly fire.”

Broughton got down on his cruiser’s floorboard to escape gunfire. Casey had braked his cruiser to the right of Benson’s, also striking Broughton’s cruiser. They were about 40 yards from Piirainen when they returned fire, Benson said.

Benson and Casey quickly moved to protect Broughton, drawing Piirainen’s fire, Hodsdon said. Benson said he was more worried about everybody else than himself. “I didn’t really think about it,” he said. “It was fast.”

Hodsdon said that while Casey was taking fire, Benson was able to use his rifle and take Piirainen’s attention off Casey and Broughton.

“So that was huge; very huge,” Hodsdon said. “I’m very proud of them. They are very dedicated officers.”

tkarkos@sunmediagroup.net