Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

AUGUSTA

August 27, 2010

Police Chief Wayne McCamish resigns

Cites changing retiree benefits

By Keith Edwards kedwards@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Police Chief Wayne McCamish, the city's top cop for 18 years, delivered his retirement letter to councilors Thursday night, announcing he's leaving the department he's served for 37 years.

McCamish plans to retire Dec. 17.

He said concerns about losing his retiree health benefits if he stays on the job spurred his decision to retire.

"My decision to leave is driven solely by the city's position to change retiree health insurance benefits," McCamish said. "I have made this decision to retire with mixed emotions, as I have served the citizens of Augusta almost my entire adult life."

City Manager William Bridgeo said McCamish submitted his letter of retirement now, even though he's not retiring until December, to give the city more time to find its next police chief.

"The chief wanted to do this in a time and fashion that is to the best interests of the city," Bridgeo said. "I respect him greatly for that."

The news shocked councilors, who thanked McCamish for his years of service to the city.

"Oh, chief," exclaimed Councilor David Rollins upon receiving the hand-delivered letter.

Mayor Roger Katz said "this is the end of an era."

He said he's known McCamish since he was a young beat patrolman and Katz was a new lawyer.

"I came to appreciate him as a true professional," Katz said. "Rising all the way to chief, he was served our community with honor and distinction."

McCamish joined the Augusta Police Department on Aug. 6, 1973, as a beat officer on the midnight shift on Water Street, with two other officers.

He held progressively higher ranks and was appointed chief in 1992.

Bridgeo said McCamish, if he continued working for the city into next year, would take a big financial hit because of the city's anticipated elimination of the retiree health insurance benefits that city retirees receive under current policies.

Bridgeo said McCamish is not alone in looking at retirement due to the retiree benefits change, noting in a memo to councilors "... we have experienced a large number of retirements since these policy changes were announced and I expect even more between now and December."

McCamish said, after the number of years he's worked for the city, not having health insurance after he retired would be a substantial change in his personal plans.

"I'm leaving at a time to preserve my retirement benefits that will enable me to spend quality time with my wife, children and grandchildren," he said.

Bridgeo said McCamish is highly regarded and he considers him to be "the epitome of the conscientious police chief."

McCamish said he feels the city's police force is the best in the state.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Tweet