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Police chief says officers did not intend electoral endorsement after photo at candidate event
Summary
Chief Hathaway told councilors that officers photographed near a candidate at a recent bridge event were not endorsing any candidate and were present for safety and traffic control; the department regrets the optics but said there was no intent to influence an election.
Police Chief Hathaway addressed councilors at the Feb. 20 workshop after council members raised a photo showing officers standing near a person who is a council candidate.
“While we regret taking a photograph with a council candidate, there’s no intent these officers to influence an election,” Chief Hathaway said. He told the council the officers were standing apart from the group and that supervisors on duty did not know the identity of the individual in the photograph.
Chief Hathaway described the officers’ purpose as traffic control and general safety at a flag-waving event on the bridge. He said the department coordinated with the Brewer police and the county sheriff’s office, and that supervisors assigned a trainee and an additional officer to hold over during the event.
He said the department does not view the photograph as an endorsement and that officers who attend community events may do so in a personal or community engagement capacity. “These officers were doing what we have for them, participating in community,” he said, adding the department did not intend electoral influence.
Councilors asked procedural questions about staffing levels and whether three officers were necessary; Chief Hathaway said he did not know the exact size or scope of the event when supervisors made staffing decisions.
Ending: Chief Hathaway invited further questions; no formal policy changes or disciplinary actions were announced at the workshop.
