Public Testimony Backs Memorial Highway for Fallen Hancock County Deputy.

Carrie Jones

Jan 09, 2026

TRENTON—Back in September 2021, Hancock County Deputy Luke Gross was killed at work while responding to a one-car crash in Trenton. Yesterday, members of the public told the Legislative Committee on Transportation that they’d like to name a portion of Route 3 in Trenton after Deputy Gross, who was 44 when he died.

“What really, truly set Luke apart was who he was beyond the uniform. Luke was kind, he was caring and despite the weight of his profession, he was still a kid at heart,” said Hancock County Sheriff Scott Kane during public testimony, January 8. “Someone who could bring lightness, laughter, and humanity simply by being who he was.”

Sheriff Kane called it a privilege to work beside Deputy Gross and to know him as a person.

The resolve, introduced by Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), directs the Department of Transportation to designate Route 3 in Trenton the Deputy Luke Gross Memorial Highway and to erect appropriate signs there to let the public know that the portion of the highway is named after Deputy Gross who lost his life after being struck by a vehicle there.

Renaming the highway will be an enduring reminder of Deputy Gross and his impact on the community, Rep. Faulkingham said.

Deputy Gross had worked for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office for 18 years and played football at Bucksport High School. He also taught DARE drug education, volunteered at Camp Postcard, helped kids with sports, friends with problems, and told a story with a hearty laugh. He was a law enforcement officer, husband, dad to a daughter and son, and a friend and mentor to many.

“It’s a simple, straightforward resolve,” Rep. Faulkingham said of the resolve that he sponsored. “He was a dedicated law enforcement officer, a committed public service officer.”

“Luke was the kind of officer every agency hopes for, and every community deserves. He was dependable, steady and took his responsibility to serve others seriously,” Sheriff Kane said.

“Luke was my hero. He was larger than life,” Lauren Gross said at her husband’s funeral in Bangor. “Not just because of the badge he wore, but because of the man he was.”

The themes of kindness, who Deputy Gross was, his light, and his empathy ran throughout the committee testimony, Thursday.

When responding to an early morning crash, Deputy Gross had been cleaning debris on Route 3 when a pickup struck him. He died of his injuries. His call number was retired. Hundreds mourned and attended his funeral. He was the first Hancock County deputy to die on duty since 1911.

That morning, Sheriff Kane said, is burned into his memory, beginning with the call that Deputy Gross was hurt.

“It marked a moment that permanently changed our office, our community and a family,” Sheriff Kane said. “What really truly set him apart was who he was beyond the uniform.”

The resolve was presented by Rep. Faulkingham and cosponsored by Rep. Steve Bishop (R-Bucksport), Rep. Mathew David McIntyre (R-Lowell), Rep. Russell P. White (R-Ellsworth), and Senator Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook). No one testified against the bill. Its next step is to head to a working committee of the state legislature.

Senator Nicole Grohoski (D-Ellsworth) and Senator Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) presented a joint statement in favor of the designation which was read by Senator Milliken.

“He didn’t just enforce the law, he served the community,” said Rep. Bishop. “He did it with empathy and he did it with patience that I always wish I had. He always took the time to treat people with dignity and respect. Those qualities earned him a lot of trust with the public and a deep respect of those who worked alongside him.”

Rep. Bishop said Deputy Gross was a mentor, leader in local schools and in law enforcement, and a friend who cared deeply about the next generation.

He also cared about his friends, driving one friend routinely to Boston for cancer treatments, Milliken said.

“Luke was more than just a deputy,” said Lt. Dakota Dupuis. “He was a family man, a friend.”

Deputy Gross was the kind of person who could walk into a room and lift the spirits of all there just by being there, Lt. Dupuis said.

He was the kind of voice people wanted to hear when things are intense, Lt. Dupuis said. “He made a lasting impact on the Hancock County community.”

“He was someone I looked up to,” Rep. Bishop said. “Luke was kind. He was compassionate and he was a generous person in how he treated people.”

“Luke Gross embodied what it meant to be a public servant,” Rep. Bishop said.

Deputy Gross’ death impacted those who knew him and those who were officers with him.

“His loss left a space that cannot be filled,” Sheriff Kane said.

Sheriff Kane said that a sign was a public acknowledgement that Deputy Gross mattered, his service mattered, and it would give Deputy Gross’ family a permanent, visible sign—something that says that his character, life, and sacrifice are not forgotten. It also would give fellow officers a place to pause, to remember why they wear the badge, why integrity matters, and how service is more than just a job, Sheriff Kane said.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Supervisory Special Agent Chris Thornton testified, “I remember where I was, I remember what I was doing.”

He said the call tightened his chest.

“The words were heavy and final,” Thornton said.

He’d been a patrol lieutenant for the HCSO when Deputy Gross died.

“I remember the silence that followed after the call ended and how loud that silence was. From that moment forward, the day, and the days following, would never be the same. Luke Gross served with courage, integrity, and a deep sense of civic duty to the citizens of Hancock County and the people of Maine,” Thornton said. “Luke put the safety of others ahead of his own.”

Erecting the sign, Thornton said, isn’t about reopening wounds or dwelling in tragedy.

“It’s about remembrance. It’s about acknowledgement,” he said.

It’s about remembering the sacrifice, he said and it’s not just about honoring a fallen officer but also a family who carry the light of Deputy Gross in themselves, too.

---

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

You can watch the testimony here. It begins close to the 55-minute mark.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/P9ye86kK7pY?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

To see the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page

The resolve’s legislative page. You can track its movement there.

---

Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.

Bar Harbor Story is a mostly reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks for being here with us and being part of our community too!