BIDDEFORD — A retired Biddeford police officer who was investigated for sexual abuse but never charged filed a lawsuit Monday against a former colleague for allegedly making false and defamatory statements regarding the investigation in the early 1990s.

The lawsuit, filed by Norman Gaudette against former detective Terry Davis, is the latest development in a sex abuse scandal that has caused a public outcry in the city. Gaudette is one of two former officers who have been accused of sexual abuse by the alleged victims during emotional public meetings where the victims and their supporters demanded the suspension of top police officials.

Also on Monday, city councilors were meeting behind closed doors with the police chief and deputy chief for the first time since the sex abuse allegations were made public against Gaudette and retired police Sgt. Stephen Dodd.

Alleged victims of the former officers and their supporters have turned out in force at recent meetings to ask the City Council to suspend Chief Roger Beaupre – who has headed the department for 34 years – and Deputy Chief JoAnne Fisk while the Maine Attorney General’s Office investigates sex abuse accusations against Dodd. Gaudette is not being investigated.

The meeting with Beaupre, Fisk and their lawyers, which lasted just over 2½ hours, was held in executive session under a provision in state law for discussion of personnel matters.

Beaupre and Fisk declined to comment after the meeting and city councilors referred requests for comment to Mayor Alan Casavant. The mayor said the meeting was productive and allowed Beaupre and Fisk a chance to lay out a timeline of the allegations and “fill in some of the blanks.”

“The council wants to process what they heard,” Casavant said. “I think overall they were satisfied with what they heard.”

Casavant said the council is not expected to vote to suspend Beaupre and Fisk at Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting.

That disappointed Matt Lauzon, the Boston businessman who grew up in Biddeford and went public three months ago with allegations that he was sexually abused by Dodd. His accusations prompted other alleged victims and their supporters to come forward on social media and at city meetings.

Since then, other sex abuse allegations have surfaced against Gaudette, who was investigated in 1990 and 1991. A grand jury declined to indict Gaudette and he returned to work. His Kennebunk-based attorney, Gene Libby, last week released a letter reiterating that there was insufficient evidence to charge Gaudette with a crime.

In the civil defamation lawsuit, filed Monday in York County Superior Court by Libby’s associate, Tara Rich, Gaudette alleges that Davis’ untrue statements about the investigation of Gaudette have caused “specific and measurable” harm to Gaudette.

Rich, in a telephone interview Monday evening, said the lawsuit she filed on behalf of Gaudette is in no way connected to the allegations made against Dodd.

“These are totally separate and distinct cases,” Rich said.

Rich referred all questions about her client’s case to the court record.

“Our comments are going to be reserved for the court settings,” she said.

In a recent statement given to Lauzon and released to the media, Davis alleged that the Attorney General’s Office intentionally threw the case against Gaudette. Davis, who lives in Florida, did not respond to a request for comment Monday evening.

Davis’ defamatory statements caused harm because “in discrediting the investigation which exonerated Gaudette, they impute sexual misconduct, criminal conduct, and describe characteristics that adversely affect his fitness for the proper conduct of his lawful business as a police officer,” according to the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Libby says Gaudette was discharged from his position as a security officer at a bank after Davis’ allegations were reported by the media. Gaudette has suffered stress and depression because of Davis’ statements, according to the lawsuit.

The council has heard from Lauzon, other alleged victims and their supporters during a series of council meetings that have become chaotic and emotional at times. The most recent meeting was held last Thursday under a provision of the city charter that allows residents to compel the council to hear grievances.

Beaupre and Fisk have been silent about the allegations, citing state laws that bar them from speaking about ongoing investigations.

Casavant, in a letter sent to residents Monday evening, said the investigation by the Attorney General’s Office has been “slow and tedious, with very little information” released to city officials or the public.

“This, of course, has been extremely frustrating for the alleged victims and for the general public. Silence and the lack of facts breeds mistrust, fear and the fueling of speculation,” Casavant wrote. “The longer the wait, the greater the magnification of suspicion and anger.”

Casavant said this has resulted in frustration for Beaupre and Fisk, who are prohibited by law from giving any details of their conduct during past investigations.

“For Deputy Chief Fisk, it is even more difficult, as she was not even deputy chief when all of those incidents allegedly occurred,” Casavant said. “Nonetheless, the inability of the two chiefs to speak publicly on these issues has created a one-sided presentation of information.”

Casavant said there has been no indication of wrongdoing by Beaupre and Fisk. The Attorney General’s Office “has indicated multiple times that the chief and deputy chief have done everything correctly,” he said.

Though Lauzon was discouraged to learn the council wouldn’t vote on suspending Beaupre and Fisk at Tuesday’s meeting, he’s hoping a councilor will step forward with a motion to add it to the agenda. Lauzon’s supporters plan to picket City Hall during the meeting.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey contributed to this story.

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