RUMFORD – A Rumford police officer has been suspended without pay for seven days and demoted after a department investigation, Town Manager Stephen Eldridge said Thursday afternoon.
Eldridge said he would not name the individual he disciplined for conduct unbecoming a police officer, citing state law that doesn’t require him to do so.
Elaborating further on the charge, Eldridge said the officer talked to the public inappropriately.
“This officer is one who has been with us for quite a while, but he has a history of complaints and reprimands, both verbal and written, that weighed tremendously on my decision,” Eldridge said.
“We were considering termination, but he had made some improvements, and had good support letters from citizens so that’s why I disciplined him rather than terminate him,” he said.
“I value the investments that we make in our officers. We spend a lot of money in training. This officer exceeded Chief Timothy Bourassa’s expectations when he first came on board,” he added.
On Nov. 31, then Detective Lt. Stacy Carter began an internal investigation after police received complaints from four people alleging misconduct by the accused officer, Eldridge said.
On Dec. 19, Eldridge conducted a personnel hearing with the accused officer and his attorney, the town’s attorney, retiring Chief Bourassa and incoming Chief Carter, and Patrolman Douglas Maifeld, the police representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1828-1 union.
“We met to discuss some complaints, charges and accusations against one of the officers. We spoke to the four people who filed complaints about misconduct, we had two letters from each – there were a lot of letters back and forth – and, in support of the officer, two patrolmen testified,” Eldridge said.
On Dec. 22, Eldridge said he decided to suspend and demote the officer.
“It was strictly my decision. Then, I informed (selectmen) individually, because people have been asking questions of them on the street,” he said.
The officer’s attorney was not allowed to speak at the hearing “because the union didn’t want him to,” he added.
Eldridge said the suspended officer had yet to file a grievance through the union.
“My advice to him was to take the punishment – the heat – and work on improving,” he said.
The town manager said the Maine Attorney General’s Office was not involved in the investigation in any way. It was strictly a matter within the department.
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