BIDDEFORD — Matt Lauzon’s attorney, Walter McKee, released a statement Wednesday demanding an independent investigation of the city’s police department. This occurred one day after city officials were given a letter allegedly written by a former Biddeford police officer who claims Chief Roger Beaupre did not properly handle allegations of sexual abuse that surfaced years ago against two now-retired officers.
Mayor Alan Casavant acknowledged at a City Council meeting on Tuesday that he and city councilors have received the 16-page handwritten letter, which is dated May 17, and said Wednesday that city officials will now meet with Keith Jacques, the city’s attorney, to determine how to deal with it.
They must confirm the letter’s authenticity, said Casavant, and then consider the veracity of the allegations before moving forward. Beaupre must also have a chance to address the allegations, he added, and because it is a personnel matter, that would happen in executive session and with Beaupre’s attorney present.
Casavant estimated that this process would take at least a few days.
But McKee, the attorney for Lauzon, said in the statement that the city should immediately commission an independent investigation of the department and criticized Casavant for not doing so already.
Lauzon’s allegations of child sexual abuse against a former Biddeford officer are currently being investigated by the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
Lauzon and his supporters have for months been pushing for Beaupre to be suspended or put on paid administrative leave in the wake of the allegations. In June – after meeting three times in executive session to discuss the matter, once with Beaupre present – the council voted against that action, citing a lack of evidence proving the chief did anything wrong.
Casavant said in a video posted on YouTube last week that in July he sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking for her opinion on pursuing an “outside and independent” investigation, but the city has not heard back from her.
— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].
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