Two Maine cops are jailed after they admitted to beating 11 PORCUPINES to death with their batons while on duty

 Two former Maine police officers have been sentenced to prison after they admitted to beating nearly a dozen porcupines to death with their batons while on duty. 

Addison Cox, 28, and Michael Rolerson, 31, who were both fired from the Rockland Police Department in September, were sentenced to hard time on Thursday, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Rolerson received 270 days in jail with 20 days suspended and community service, while Cox only got 90 days in jail with 10 days suspended and six months of probation. Both were hit with $1,000 fines. 

Rolerson admitted to killing at least eight porcupines, while Cox said he killed three. 

Both former officers had pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and night hunting, however Rolerson was hit with a longer sentence due to the fact that he was a senior officer and had killed more porcupines than Cox, who will only be serving his sentence out during the weekends. 

The outlet reports that Cox had told investigators that he was trying to emulate Rolerson, who he said he looked up to.

The disturbing allegations came to light in August, when another officer reporter Rolerson and Cox's abuse to his superiors, according to a Maine Game Warden report.   

Former Rockland Police officers Addison Cox (pictured) and Michael Rolerson were sentenced to jail this week after they admitted to beating porcupines to death with batons
Rolerson (pictured) received 270 days in jail with 20 days suspended, and was hit with a longer sentence due to the fact that he was a senior officer and had killed more porcupines than Cox

Former Rockland Police officers Addison Cox (left) and Michael Rolerson (right) were sentenced to jail this week after they admitted to beating porcupines to death with batons

Rolerson and Cox are both Marine Corps veterans who served tours in Afghanistan, with Rolerson revealing to investigators that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the service.

District Attorney Natasha Irving said both former police officers are currently receiving mental health treatment from the Veterans’ Administration.

'That was a mitigating factor, that they both experienced war zones,' Irving said, according to the Daily News. 


'Ultimately I want them never to hurt another living thing again […] I think that addressing the mental health component, I think that’s a really important part of it.' 

In 2018, Cox was was awarded the department's life-saving award after responding to a call for a man who had been stabbed in his brachial artery and making a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

In March of that same year, he was awarded with the Silver Star from the Police Hall of Fame after pulling two people out of a burning house fire.

In a Facebook post that announces those honors, the Rockland Police Department state that Cox was the department's resident 'raccoon whisperer,' who also helped a skunk remove its head from a peanut butter jar.

Officer Cox saved a raccoon in 2018 after collecting 'him by the scruff and move him to the treeline, where he scampered off, away from homes and people'

Officer Cox saved a raccoon in 2018 after collecting 'him by the scruff and move him to the treeline, where he scampered off, away from homes and people'

Rolerson admitted to killing at least eight porcupines, while Cox himself said he killed three

Rolerson admitted to killing at least eight porcupines, while Cox himself said he killed three

The post stated that the former officer 'was able to assess that this little fella showed no signs of disease - he appeared to be looking for his mother.' 

'Officer Cox was able to collect him by the scruff and move him to the treeline, where he scampered off, away from homes and people.'

According to investigators, Rolerson said that he considered the porcupines to be an annoyance, claiming the animals would cause damage at his camp as well as on Rockland roads. 

As a part of his sentencing, Rolerson must also give up his Maine Criminal Justice Academy Credentials according to the terms of his probation.

Powered by Blogger.