The retirement of the Kennebunkport police chief came after one of his own officers pulled him over and thought he appeared to be driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a press release from the town.

Town Manager Larry Mead issued a statement saying that Joseph Bruni retired as police chief after being confronted with the results of a three-week investigation. The probe stemmed from an incident on Feb. 11 in which an officer pulled Bruni over.

The officer believed Bruni was under the influence and called for backup. After a “contentious interaction,” one of the officers drove Bruni home. He was not arrested nor was he issued a summons to appear in court.

The incident was reported to the town manager, however, who initiated the investigation. Concerns about management of the department led him to ask the Attorney General’s Office to investigate as well. The town also has hired a former federal prosecutor to conduct a thorough probe of the department’s management, the town’s release said.

Bruni’s lawyer, Jonathan Goodman, issued a statement minutes after the town did. He described the incidents somewhat differently.

Bruni said that he was off-duty when stopped for a traffic violation by a Kennebunkport officers. The officers said they intended to investigate whether Bruni was under the influence. “Chief Bruni felt as though he was not operating under the influence, and so he became somewhat defensive toward the officers,” the statement said.

The officers decided not to arrest him or issue a summons, he said.

Later, Bruni says he realized he had been discourteous toward the officers and did not handle the situation professionally.

“After a period of self-reflection and talking with his family as well as Town Manager Larry Mead, Chief Bruni decided that the right thing to do was to step down and retire from his position,” the statement said.

The chief said he stands by his record regarding other concerns about the management of the department that arose after he decided to retire.

Bruni said he apologizes to the staff, town officials and citizens. He is currently “working through a number of health and family-related issues” the statement said.

 

10:52 a.m.

KENNEBUNKPORT – The town plans to issue a statement this afternoon clarifying the reasons for the departure of Police Chief Joseph Bruni earlier this week.

Bruni, who had headed the department for nine years, resigned Tuesday, citing health reasons.

However, Town Manager Larry Mead said the resignation was precipitated by a “driving incident” that occurred on Feb. 11. That incident led to an investigation, Mead said, and culminated in the resignation this week.

Mead declined to offer specifics on the Feb. 11 event prior to the release of the statement, which is being drafted with help from town lawyers.

Copy the Story Link