Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1731
24 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MAY 2009 S ergeant Bruce Cof- fi n of the Portland, Maine Police De- partment has been on the job for twenty-four years. You might say that he has law enforcement in his blood. Bruce has an uncle, cousin and brother-in-law who are all police offi cers. Sgt. Coffin joined the Portland Police Department in 1985, and since that time has worked many different assignments, from patrol offi cer to traffi c offi cer to detective. In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and eventually returned to the Detective Bureau as a su- pervisor. In 2004, Bruce was as- signed to the Joint Terror- ism Task Force where he worked with FBI, State and Local Investigators. Although his career has seen many turns, there has been one constant: his love of art. Bruce has been a profes- sional artist for the past fi fteen years. What began as a way to combat the stress of police work has become a second career. His subject matter varies greatly depending on what moves him at any given time. Police work, how- ever, has been a recurring theme. Two of his most recent commissions were police related. In 2007, Bruce was com- missioned by both of the Portland Police Unions to create a portrait of a police roll call circa 1940. T h e p a i n t i n g , t i t l e d "1940's Roll Call," depicts nine actual Portland Police Offi cers in the guard room of the original Portland Po- lice Headquarters. In 2008, Bruce was com- missioned by the FBI Na- tional Academy Association New England Chapter (FBI- NAA) to create a portrait to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the FBI. The painting, titled "Fi- delity, Bravery, Integrity," is a tribute to Special Agent Edwin C. Shanahan, who in 1925 became the fi rst agent killed in the line of duty. Last December, the fi nished portrait was presented by the FBINAA to the Boston Division of the FBI, where it is now proudly displayed. An award-winning artist, Bruce plans to continue painting long after retiring his badge. You can see more of Bruce's work at www.cof- fi ncreations.com. From gun and badge to the brushes and paints Bruce Coffi n has made a second career using only his talent Sergeant Bruce Coffin of the Portland, Maine Police Department. Circle number 26 on the Reader Service Card. www.columbiasouthern.edu/info/apbm | 877.845.7635 2UDQJH%HDFK$/ Convenience Meets Education t"õPSEBCMF5VJUJPO t.BYJNVN5SBOTGFS$SFEJU t#FHJO$PVSTFTBU"OZUJNF t/P4DIFEVMFE0OMJOF4FTTJPOT t5FYUCPPLTBU/P$PTU t2VBMJUZ4FSWJDF t5"%"/5&4BOE7"#FOFmUT t'FEFSBM'JOBODJBM"JE *OIPOPSPG/BUJPOBM1PMJDF8FFL$46DFMFCSBUFTZPVS TFSWJDFEFEJDBUJPOBOEDPNNJUNFOUUPUIFTBGFUZPG PVSDPNNVOJUJFT 'SPNUIFFOUJSFGBDVMUZBOETUBõ Associate | Bachelor | Master COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ONLINE DEGREES 'SPNUIFFOUJSFGBDVMUZBOETUBõ Associate | Bachelor | Master Associate | Bachelor | Master Associate | Bachelor | Master Associate | Bachelor | Master We thank you!