Police officers in Auburn should feel vindicated.

Finally, after months of questionable legal maneuvering, the city released the results of an investigation conducted by a Portland law firm into the events surrounding the arrest of Mayor Norm Guay in August.

In our reading of the report, the police acted appropriately. They had reason to believe the mayor, who was charged with operating under the influence and later cleared by a alcohol breath test and the Attorney General’s Office, was intoxicated and handled the investigation and arrest appropriately – though not perfectly.

The findings, however, cast serious questions on the actions of the city and its leadership. From the assault on the integrity of the police to the disregard shown for freedom of information laws, there is much to answer for.

Immediately after Guay’s arrest, City Manager Pat Finnigan went on the offensive. In November, she released an acid summary of the report, but refused to release the document itself. She basically accused members of the department of using police power in an “effort to embarrass, intimidate or discredit political opponents.”

There were no Gestapo-like tactics. And while some of the off-duty officers displayed a distasteful schadenfreude over the mayor’s arrest, nowhere were there any indications that on-duty officers treated Guay disrespectfully or unfairly.

Nine police officers have been disciplined for their part in the events of Aug. 4. Because eight of the officers are appealing the punishment, no details have been released. But the actions smack of retribution.

The Sun Journal has been involved in a legal battle with the city, fighting for the release of this report. The city bobbed, weaved and dodged, spending taxpayer money to protect itself from the document’s release.

Finally, as the legal process was turning against the city, Finnigan relented. The 76-page document, and its accompanying appendix, was released late in the day Jan. 23.

City leaders must have thought themselves clever. The time and manner of the release limited the ability of the police union to respond, buried the story in the weekend news cycle and protected city leaders from pointed, uncomfortable questions.

It seems the city’s biggest problem with this whole nasty affair is that police officers would have the audacity to speak to the media, to go public with the arrest of Guay and with the details of their ongoing labor dispute with the city. Be assured, when the mayor gets arrested and charged with OUI, it’s news and word will get out.

This boils down to who controls information. The city lost control, was embarrassed and has spent the last seven months trying to recover.

Mayor Guay drank three beers in 1 hour and 15 minutes and then drove. He was arrested and charged with OUI. He failed several field sobriety tests, but his blood alcohol level was well below the legal limit. He was exonerated. The city has worked hard to suppress information surrounding these events, while needlessly attacking the credibility of its own police department.

These wounds will be difficult to heal. The trust between city administrators and its rank-and-file police officers is gone. Somehow, that relationship must be repaired.


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