Barrow Journal

The turmoil that has slammed the Auburn Police Department in the past two weeks is one part a question of leadership, and one part Peyton Place.

Four Auburn police officers have resigned or been fired in the two weeks, including the town’s police chief Fred Brown, and his second in command, Lt. Danny Kerns, both of whom resigned under what appeared to be pressure from city officials.

Sgt. Paul Nadeau was sworn in as interim chief Monday.

Brown and Kerns were reportedly pressured to resign after city officials concluded they had not dealt strongly enough with an officer who had misbehaved while on duty and an officer whose relationship with an 18-year-old girl had raised eyebrows and reports of political pressure.

One situation involved former Auburn police Sgt. Derek Ulrich, who more than a year ago confessed to having had sex while on duty with a local waitress. Brown and Kerns gave Ulrich a verbal warning, but never reported the incident to the mayor and city administrator as required by the city’s personnel policy. [Full Story »]