Kennebunkport’s police chief has retired after an investigation into his conduct on Feb. 11, when he was pulled over by one of his own officers who suspected him of driving under the influence.

Joseph Bruni was not arrested or issued a summons to appear in court, but was — after a heated disagreement — driven home. Afterward, officers alerted the town manager, who began an internal investigation.

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Kennebunkport Police Chief Joseph Bruni, a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, is retiring after an internal probe. 2002 Press Herald file

Confronted with the results of that three-week probe, Bruni, who is in his 50s, retired Tuesday, citing health reasons.

“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,” said a statement from Bruni’s lawyer, Jonathan Goodman of Troubh Heisler.

Bruni has spent 30 years in law enforcement and the past nine years running Kennebunkport’s police department, a job that included managing demonstrators, well-wishers and the national press corps when President George W. Bush came to town for family visits.

Mead issued a statement Friday saying that the officer who stopped Bruni believed the chief was under the influence and called for backup from a supervisor.

After a “contentious interaction,” one of the officers drove Bruni home, the statement said.

Concerns about that incident and “other facts brought to light at the same time” raised questions about management of the department and led Mead to ask the Attorney General’s Office to investigate.

The Attorney General’s Office, which investigates possible police misconduct to avoid potential conflicts of interest within departments, said it has received the request and is reviewing the matter.

The town has hired a former federal prosecutor, George T. Dilworth, to do a thorough investigation of the department’s management based on issues that came to light during Mead’s inquiry, the town’s release said.

Bruni said he was off-duty when the officer pulled him over for failure to stop for a signal light or stop sign, Goodman said. The officer and the supervisor who was called 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,” Goodman said in his statement.

He said the officers’ decision not to charge Bruni suggests they did not feel that a charge was warranted. “He feels that he wouldn’t have been driving unless he felt OK to be driving.”

Bruni apparently was at Alisson’s Restaurant in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square on the night of Feb. 11.

“He didn’t seem belligerent or intoxicated to me,” said Adam Padget, whose family owns the restaurant and has known Bruni for years. “I talked to him that night and he was perfectly normal with me.”

Padget said Bruni left the restaurant by 11 p.m.

The former chief stands by his record regarding concerns about the management of the department, Goodman said.

“We don’t really know the extent of these issues they’re raising, but we’re hoping that once they’re investigated, the town will feel there’s nothing further to pursue,” Goodman said.

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

Mead said he cannot disclose more about the issue because of the ongoing investigation and because of personnel laws. He said a full report will be made public once the investigation is complete.

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at: dhench@pressherald.com

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