Critics of Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre and the city’s response to sex abuse allegations are using Craigslist to find people to join a protest next week.

Supporters of Matthew Lauzon and other alleged abuse victims are trying to rally support to push for the City Council to suspend Beaupre and launch an investigation of the police department in the wake of allegations made against a former police officer. The Maine Attorney General’s Office announced this week that it will not file charges against the officer accused of sexually abusing Lauzon, a Boston tech entrepreneur who grew up in the city.

Lauzon, who went public with his allegations early this year, is pushing for Beaupre to be put on administrative leave because Lauzon feels that people, including police officers, will come forward with new information if the chief is not in place.

City officials have said there is no indication of wrongdoing by Beaupre and that there was no cover-up of abuse by Stephen Dodd, the retired police sergeant Lauzon accused of sexual abuse. The City Council passed a resolution in June saying it would not suspend Beaupre because there wasn’t enough evidence to take “adverse employment action.”

A listing posted Thursday on Craigslist seeks volunteers to hold signs at a protest before a council meeting scheduled for Tuesday. The council will meet that evening in executive session to discuss what, if anything, it should do now that the Attorney General’s Office investigation has ended with no charges.

“This will be a peaceful protest and a sign to our city (councilors) that people do care,” reads the ad, titled “Volunteers needed for good cause! Help stop pedophilia in Biddeford.”

The protest is expected to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday outside of Biddeford High School. The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the school’s Little Theater.


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