HALLOWELL, Maine — A police chief once accused of sexually assaulting one of his officers will get to keep his job.

Applause broke out after Friday night’s city council vote. In 2013, a 22-year-old female officer accused Hallowell Police Chief Eric Nason of sexually assaulting her. After an investigation, late last summer, the city reprimanded Nason for “unsuitable personal conduct” and “lack of judgement.” Nason has never faced criminal charges and said the encounter he had with the officer was consensual.





Friday night, the city voted 5-2 in favor of re-appointing Nason as police chief.

“The city council did authorize a reprimand — a written reprimand for [Nason’s] personnel file — but we didn’t think it rose to the level where he should be taken off and basically fired by the city,” said Mayor Mark Walker.

“The hiring practices of a new hire that the chief admitted to having a personal relationship with just was bad judgment and not what I consider good practices for a police chief,” said Phil Lindley, who was one of two councilors voting against Nason’s reappointment.

Chief Nason wouldn’t talk on camera, but off camera, he said “the people have spoken.”