Tag: State police

AUGUSTA, Maine — A small, new Maine State Police motorcycle unit that began with an “out of nowhere” request from former Gov. Paul LePage nearly a year ago will be rolled out formally in April. Without legislative approval and using $171,000 in existing funds, the Maine State Police bought six motorcycles toward the end of 2018, along with trailers for the new unit, which will largely be used part time for ceremonial purposes and to promote recruitment with limited operational use that could include work at parades and other congested scenes. The state police auctioned off its last motorcycles in 1954, according to an online state police history. In response to questions about it in January, department spokesman Stephen McCausland said the motorcycles would be unveiled publicly at an April 12 state police graduation ceremony. After that, McCausland provided more information, including policies that will govern it. However, Cote said in a written response to questions that the agency had previously wanted motorcycles. Julie Rabinowitz, a spokeswoman for LePage’s political group, deferred to the state police when asked why he wanted the motorcycle unit, but the former governor’s Facebook post cited the agency’s history and that he wanted it by the end of his tenure. Trooper Aaron Turcotte, the former president of the Maine State Troopers Association, said bringing back motorcycles is “long overdue. For a roundup of Maine political news, click here to receive Daily Brief, Maine’s only newsletter on state politics via email on weekday mornings.

The allegations of unlawful political contributions against three State Police commissioners, as well as their responses to the claims, were sent Thursday to Gov. State Police Commission Chairman Eulis Simien Jr. and commissioners Jared J. Caruso-Riecke and Chief Harold Pierite Sr. — who were all initially appointed by Edwards to the board — have denied any wrongdoing after they were accused last month of making political donations that violate the same rules they are tasked with investigating and reviewing for troopers. “The matter cannot be decided by this commission," Jason Hannaman, the executive director of the commission, said at the board meeting Thursday. "After those investigations are complete, the Governor will determine whether to take any further action," Sanford wrote in a statement Thursday. The donation details have since been updated in the Ethics Administration's online records, now noting that his brother Denis Riecke made the donation, not Riecke & Associates. Jimmy Simien, Eulis Simien's brother, wrote in a letter provided to the board: “I alone made the decisions without any input from Eulis, who was not involved in either the decisions, events, or the contributions.” Pierite is accused of making multiple donations totaling $120 to the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Political Action Committee throughout 2017. Pierite did not deny making those contributions, but argued that neither the state constitution nor the rules of the State Police Commission explicitly prohibit commissioners from making contributions to a political committee. However, the attorney also noted Pierite has since halted these automatic monthly donations to the PAC. Similar allegations three years ago led to three commissioners resigning, amid an investigation over thousands of dollars in political donations by them or their companies during their terms on the board. The State Police Commission on Thursday also dismissed a complaint over a political donation from the Louisiana Troopers Charities, in the form of an $800 check to the Acadiana Strong Political Action Committee.

State Police Commission Chairman Eulis Simien, Jr., and commissioners Jared J. Caruso-Riecke and Chief Harold Pierite, Sr., were accused at the board's monthly meeting on Thursday of making donations that violate the same rules the board is tasked with investigating and reviewing for troopers. In an interview on Friday, Pierite said his campaign contributions don't violate commission rules or state law. +3 Former State Police trooper Leon "Bucky" Millet raised concerns about the campaign contributions made by the three commissioners at the board's meeting Thursday. While Simien and Caruso-Riecke have not personally made campaign contributions during their terms, contributions were made by their companies, according to Louisiana Ethics Administration records. Simien asked that each of the members implicated, including himself, do the same. Pierite's donations are in his name and show donations totaling $120 to the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Political Action Committee in 2017, according to Louisiana Ethics Administration records. Simien tasked the commission's Executive Director Jason Hannaman to conduct an investigation into the allegations and report back with the findings. Millet also filed a complaint with the board over an $800 check that the Louisiana Ethics Administration reported came from Louisiana Troopers Charities to the Acadiana Strong Political Action Committee. He said they are looking into the check, but haven't been able to find its origin as of Friday. The commission plans to address that allegation at February's meeting.