I am horrified that Auburn Capt. Ducharme admitted to the charge of sexual abuse of a minor and was handed a jail sentence. The sentence was then suspended, meaning no time behind bars.

He is still on paid administrative leave for the next year and a half. It sounds as if the Auburn Fire Department has been harboring a child predator.

Firefighters have contact with the public, contact with children. The also run school fire drills and inspections.

Do we want him at our schools?

If people who are hired to serve and protect are abusing and basically getting away with it, what message does it send?

Would a police officer receive the same actions?

Firefighters receive Maine State retirement. Do any of my tax dollars support this fund?

I don’t want a pedophile to have a comfortable retirement on my tax dollars.

Do fire departments receive funding from the state or federal governments?

I don’t want to support a pedophile at a captain’s salary.

When are we going to send a message that this is wrong and will not be tolerated?

Candice Hammerton, Lisbon Falls