The Challenge Coin Program was begun by the Police Department as a community policing initiative that enabled individual officers to recognize citizens for extraordinary acts of selflessness toward their fellow man.

Since its inception, dozens of citizens have been commended by officers. For acts as simple as making sure a neighbor's driveway was shoveled in the winter-no small concern for a handicapped person-to making timely observations and notifications in a bank holdup, Saco's officers have taken the time to note incidents of good citizenship in the community.

The coins make a very attractive and unique statement. A solid inch and a half in diameter, the coins bear a color image of the Police Department patch on one side, and the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor on the other. A fluted edge rounds out the coin, making it a very enviable collector's item. The package the coins are presented in notes that the awards are presented to "deserving recipients who go above and beyond in their service to their community or their fellow man".

A brief synopsis of the "story behind the story" of each award can be found on the Police Department website.