This is in response to Moe Galarneau’s letter published Jan. 11, “Police aren’t above the law.”

Mr. Galarneau is absolutely right; police aren’t above the law. He saw an Auburn police cruiser committing a speeding violation and submitted a Freedom of Access Act request for the GPS data for the cruiser in question. Once the information was collected and confirmed, the department took immediate disciplinary action against the officer operating that cruiser.

In his request for data, Galarneau did not request the name of the officer operating the cruiser. Had he made that request, the name of the officer would have been furnished to him in accordance with the law.

In his letter, Galarneau properly cites the law regarding the speeding violation and asks the question if the officer was charged. The officer was not charged, nor can anyone be charged with a speeding violation based upon GPS data. Maine law clearly states that only the results of radar, laser and chronometer can be used as prima facie evidence of the speed of a motor vehicle in a criminal or traffic infraction proceeding. GPS data is not included in the state statute.

On the back of every Auburn patrol cruiser, it states “Expect Excellence.” That is the standard we set and strive to meet every day, protecting those who live, work and play in Auburn.

Do we get it right every time? No, we don’t. We aren’t perfect; no one is.

But when we miss the mark, we identify how we missed it, learn from it, and try not to make the same mistake twice.

We hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve.

Chief Jason Moen, Auburn Police Department