Harold V Bickmore III
November 21, 1957 ~ July 26, 2023
Resided in:
Cumberland, Maine
Harold “Pete” Vincent Bickmore, III, 65, of Cumberland, passed away peacefully at Gosnell Memorial Hospice on July 26, 2023, surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. Pete was born in Portland, on November 21, 1957, the son of Harold V. and Hattie (Cutler) Bickmore, Jr.
Pete grew up in Cumberland, ME, where his fascination with the fire and police started and eventually turned into decades in law enforcement as an FBI Special Agent and most recently as the Chief of Police back in his home state of Maine. Pete joined the Cumberland Fire Department at age 15 and never ventured far from his love of firefighting. After graduating from Greely High School in 1977, he attended what is now called SMCC and continued to the University of Maryland where he graduated with a degree in Fire Science.
After graduating from the University of Maryland, Pete joined the Cumberland Police Department and the Scarborough Police Department as a reserve officer, becoming full time in 1982. It wouldn’t be long before he convinced his childhood best friend/brother Mike Edes to join him at the police department in Scarborough.
Pete spent 26 years as an FBI agent and was assigned to offices in Boston, Cleveland, Newark, Iraq, and headquarters in Washington D.C. He was the head of the Bureau’s Domestic Terrorism Unit before retiring. He then became head of security for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. Pete’s love of family and Maine drew him back home to Maine to live out his dream as a police chief. At the same time, Pete became a reserve police officer in Scarborough patrolling Prouts Neck before retiring in October 2022 after his diagnosis.
Pete was known as a "cop’s cop". He will be forever remembered for his kindness and generosity, his dry sense of humor, high pitched laugh, but most of all for his deep devotion to his family. He was always optimistic, respected by all who knew him, and he was always ready to share a story and loved a good laugh.
He is preceded in death by his father, Harold; mother, Hattie; sisters, Ellen and Kristen; and brother-in-law, Francis “Chip” Downey.
He is survived by his daughters, Lauren Brown (Jacob) of Scarborough and Meghan Henchel (Ben) of Falmouth; sisters, Brenda Bidwell of Venice, Florida, and Susan Downey of Portland, Maine; nephews, Francis “Jake” Downey of Boston, Massachusetts and John (Taylor) Downey of Cumberland, Maine; a great niece, Piper Downey; and grand dog and companion, Rudy Brown.
Visiting Hours celebrating Pete's life will be held from 3:00 - 7:00pm on Wednesday August 2, 2023 at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway. A Funeral Service will be held at 1pm on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Wentworth School, 20 Quentin Drive, Scarborough. To view the livestream of Pete's service, please visit www.facebook.com/conroytullywalker. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony at The Landing, 353 Pine Point Road, Scarborough. To view Pete's memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Hospice of Southern Maine, 390 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074.
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Pete, you contributed endlessly and you are missed greatly. I have been better off since I met you on the qualification range decades ago and the endless fine times will carry on for me in vivid memory form.
On Boylston Street in Boston at 11:30 PM Halloween 1998, Pete, myself, and a dear friend of Pete’s (driving) happened onto a gang murder in progress on the edge of a sidewalk where everyone else was scattering. Needless to say, the murder was prevented, the bleeding from a broken skull was slowed, and the 3 gang felons were corralled until Boston PD arrived. The last one of them was exited from state prison in 2012.
So sorry to hear of Pete’s passing. It just doesn’t seem real. I pray for the family and I will miss him tremendously. I treasure his friendship and his support personally and professionally. I could always text Pete and he would always make me smile. May he rest in peace and may we always remember him as a good man, father and friend.
Happy Heavenly Birthday my friend. We miss you.
I remember the first time I ever met Pete. I was about 12 yrs old. He was an FBI agent at this time. I was staying with my Aunts… Brenda and Diana like i did every summer. I had heard so much about him thru them. I even had
X-mas gifts from this man whom I never met before. I walked into their home in Manassass, VA… and there he was. Stoic and so very serious. I was scared to death. Then the biggest smile came across his face and his laugh put me at ease. At that very moment, even as a child, I was aware that the world was a better and safer place with him in it. He will be missed.
To Pete’s Family:
I just wanted you to know how nice your dad was:). I met him when he was looking for housing when he was in the Cleveland area when he was the head of security for the Cleveland Browns. He was so willing to share his knowledge of the FBI and Maine! My son was interested in the FBI and he spoke with him on multiple occasions to share his knowledge. He was also helpful with ideas for Maine vacations for my family. Such a sweet guy:). Prayers for comfort and peace to you all.
Marikate Wazevich
Howard Hanna
Rocky River, OH
We met on match in 2005 and kept in touch and shared our families mostly by text or phone calls. 🎈💔
They all know he loved and protected his WHOLE family. When you meet someone on match you never know who you may come across. Something in my gut told me he was telling me truths. And it turns out he did.
When I lived in Auburn Pete visited me a few times. Once waa after work because i invited him to have bbq. My son had a few of his high school friends over. When Pete arrived in his suit the kids thought, oh god a nerd. Lol Then Pete opened his jacket to show off his gun and tgey all got wide eyed and thought he was the coolest! Of course after Pete changed he secured his weapon in his vehicle. And we all enjoyed ribs and steak!
I had the privilege of working with Pete during my career with the RI State Police. He was honorable man, a patriot and an honest cop. May he rest in peace.
I met Pete when he was still in H.S. In Cumberland. He worked at the local Texaco Station. I was a young Portland police lieutenant. He had numerous questions about a career in police work.
My advice to him was to obtain a college degree and to join the FBI.. He did so and we lost track of each other for 30:+ years.
About 18 months ago, we reconnected as neighbors in Cumberland.
We were really two different people after our many years in Law Enforcement. During the last 18 months, my nurse wife Mary and I had the real privilege of helping Pete during his struggle with this most insidious of diseases.
Pete, like so many of us , was a good man, if not a perfect man.
Pete was absolutely one of the nicest and most genuine men I have ever known. It’s been only 5 days since he found peace, and I already miss his friendship.
God Bless you Pete. Mike McDonough
Pete was one in a million, he helped everyone. His service in law enforcement is admirable, particularly the night he rescued the girl in Massachusetts while walking for an ice cream Pete was a true servant to his fellow man, to his profession, and to God. He was the best of the best , the cream of the crop. There will never be another like him.
To the memory of a great man, who lived not only a life that mattered, but a life spent helping others. Pete, may you rest in eternal peace and rise in glory. I will always and forever treasure the many happy memories made on your visits to my grandparents on the West End of Chebeague, as well as the many weekends we spent together with my Mom and I in our Queens New York home when you were assigned to the Newark office of the FBI. You were an extraordinary son, brother, and father. You gave it your all, rest well faithful servant. With my eternal gratitude for your presence in my life. You were a Godsend to me in my hour of need. Much Love to you at that mansion in the sky. Ms. Stephanie Charlotte Curran xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
55 years of brother hood!
My condolences to Pete’s family during this difficult time. We worked together in Washington, D.C. and rode in a car pool. He was always personable, friendly and funny. Very sorry for your loss
Condolences to the family, rest easy Pete.
RIP Peter. You will always be special to me forever.
Our thoughts and prayers are with BB and her family.