BIDDEFORD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Biddeford City Council will not place the police chief and deputy chief on leave amid sexual abuse allegations against former Biddeford police officers. The council voted 6-2 Monday night to pass a resolution not to "initiate any adverse employment action" against Chief Roger Beaupre or Deputy Chief JoAnne Fisk.
The alleged victims and their supporters said they are upset with the decision. They've been calling for those suspensions while the Attorney General's office investigates the allegations.
The council met for about an hour and a half behind closed doors to discuss the chief and deputy chief's employment.
Ultimately, Mayor Alan Casavant said there's no proof that justifies putting them on leave.
"At this particular juncture there's not enough evidence that the chief or deputy chief did anything wrong," he said.
Rick Alexander, an alleged victim, claims both Beaupre and Fisk, who was not serving as deputy chief at the time of the alleged abuse, knew what was happening.
"Everybody swept all this stuff under the rug," Alexander said.
Councilor Bob Mills voted against the resolution. He said the council made the decision hastily, and that the city doesn't necessarily need evidence to place the employees on leave.
"I've been calling for an independent investigation of the entire department," Mills explained. "It's not admitting any guilt or innocence, but I think it will set a good place for the public and the community to know that the police force is an honorable police force."
Some residents are outraged by the council's decision. Robert Provencher, who's lived in Biddeford his whole life, said he's lost trust in his elected officials.
Meanwhile, Casavant is still asking anyone who can prove misconduct by the chief or deputy chief to come forward. Mayor Alan Casavant says the council can revisit the matter if anyone does provide new information.
