HALLOWELL — City councilors voted Tuesday to ban relationships between city supervisors and their employees several months after it came to light that Police Chief Eric Nason was accused of sexually assaulting a female officer in 2013.
The changes approved by councilors prohibit any romantic or sexual relationships between supervisors and subordinates and mandate sexual harassment training for all city employees, including reserve officers of the police department and on-call employees of the fire department.
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It was the councilors’ first response to allegations the Kennebec Journal reported on in June and councilors found out about in May through anonymous letters.
The 22-year-old officer accused Nason, 48, of sexual assault in June 2013. The Maine State Police investigated the officer’s report after a sexual encounter between the two at Nason’s camp, but no charges were brought against the chief, who has said through his attorney that the encounter was consensual. The officer has maintained through her attorney that she was too intoxicated to consent to sex that night.
Both Nason and the officer have admitted to having a sexual relationship before then.
Councilor George Lapointe, head of the committee that crafted the changes, said Wednesday that it’s been a long and difficult process, but it’s a good move for the city.
“We think it will help everybody — city employees, city councilors and members of the public — know what’s expected up front as opposed to looking back,” Lapointe, an at-large councilor, told the Kennebec Journal last week.
The changes to city policy go into effect Nov. 1. The mandatory sexual harassment training is likely to begin later this month, according to City Manager Michael Starn.
The Personnel Committee will examine questions raised by councilors Wednesday to see if it will recommend modifying the policy amendments.
Ward 3 Councilor Phillip Lindley suggested adding the term “applicants” to the policy language prohibiting romantic relationships between supervisors and subordinates.
At-Large Councilor Alan Stearns asked whether the policy should reference the law enforcement code of ethics that is listed on the city’s website.
In July, another claim of sexual misconduct was made against Nason. A Rome woman told the city that when she dated Nason in 1997, he took a pornographic picture of her as she slept. In response, the city hired a private investigator to look into her claims.
Starn reprimanded Nason for his roles in both incidents in September, saying in a letter placed in the chief’s personnel file that “personal conduct and decision-making” fell “well below the standard of judgment and professionalism expected of you as a law enforcement officer and police chief.”
The letter carried no penalty, but Starn said it could affect Nason’s job status when he comes up for re-appointment in January.
Paul Koenig — 621-5663
Twitter: @paul_koenig
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