BIDDEFORD, Maine — After a lengthy executive session, Biddeford city councilors decided not to suspend the police chief or deputy chief while they investigate alleged sexual abuse claims against former police officers.
The mayor said there’s not enough evidence but alleged victims disagree.
In a 6-2 vote, city councilors decided Police Chief Roger Beaupre and Deputy Chief Joanne Fisk aren’t going anywhere.
“Nothing is cast in concrete at this juncture, but again, based on what we’ve seen there’s no credible evidence to suggest the chief or deputy chief did anything wrong,” said Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant.
One city councilor was not happy about the decision.
“I’ve been calling for an independent investigation of the entire department,” said City Councilor Bob Mills. “It’s not admitting any guilt or innocence but I think it’ll set a good place for the community and public to know that there police force is honorable and doing something like this in haste was something I didn’t agree with.”
Alleged victims and their supporters were against the decision as well.
“I’m very upset that there’s no justice for the families this happened to,” said alleged victim Shelly Nelson.
“I don’t think it’s fair. It hurts,” said alleged victim James Simpson.
But the mayor said he believes they made the right call, for now.
“We have obligations for due process, the idea that people are innocent until proven guilty, so if we’re going to be doing things in terms of the chief or deputy chief we want to make sure we get it right,” said Casavant.
The mayor said they will not be revisiting this issue unless new evidence is brought forward.