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Fryeburg Police Chief Presents Saco River Statistics

September 13, 2010 - FRYEBURG -- Thanks to YouTube and social networking sites like Facebook, the Saco River has become the place to be for boozing revelers from out of state, Chief of Police Philip Weymouth says.

“Fryeburg is on the map! It’s become the place to go to have your floating frat house parties,” the police chief told selectmen here, last month. “It’s very blatant through YouTube and Facebook — they’re coming from out of state because these social networking sites say, ‘In Fryeburg, Maine you can go and drink and party and do whatever you want.’ They have quite a network out there called ‘Friends of the Saco River’. I’m a member of every one of the social networking sites. They have no idea. They’re flooding this area with alcohol. Last weekend (Aug. 21-22), we took 50 cases of beer off the River.”

Selectman Tom Klinepeter asked the police chief, “They’re just setting up and partying?”

“Yes,” Chief Weymouth replied. “Fryeburg’s a small town, and we only have a six-man police department.”

Weymouth said that various state and county law enforcement agencies aren’t able to assist Fryeburg Police on the Saco River this year, any more than in the past, primarily due to manpower and funding issues.

So, Chief Weymouth says perhaps the town should come up with some local ordinances to address problems on the Saco River.

“From a town level, we would have a lot more control,” said Weymouth.

Selectman Rick Eastman said he would “like to call a meeting for all with an interest on the Saco River,” to be held sometime after the Fryeburg Fair ends.

“Obviously, this is not going to go away,” Eastman told the police chief. “You’ve got some concerns. The business is great for the town, but we’ve got to manage the whole package.” 

Drinking and partying aren’t the only problems the local small town police department here has to deal with, either, Weymouth said.

One recent summer weekend, Fryeburg Police had to handle a traffic backup of nearly 100 vehicles on Route 5, near the privately owned Fiddlehead Campground and directly across from the entrance to the town-owned Canal Bridge Campground, the police chief said.

“We had as many as 100 cars parked on Canal Bridge (on Route 5),” Weymouth stated.

“I was there, and we had everything in place,” Fiddlehead Campground co-owner and manager George Cole told the selectmen Aug. 26. “They (motorists) were being stopped by the Fryeburg Police on Canal Bridge. A system was set up, on our end, but was pretty much blocked on the other end (out on the bridge and road).”

“My officers told me the next day they had to turn away 100 cars,” Chief Weymouth replied. “I’m not blaming anyone or any place, but when cars get backed up, we have to deal with it — and when they can’t get in (to a campground), they’re backed up.”

Referring to the recent 100-car back-up problem, Weymouth said, “I think a lot of this, again, is (due to) the social networking sites. Whether (campers) are supposed to make reservations or not, it doesn’t matter — when the social networking site says, ‘Come early.’ Then, when the campgrounds’ gates close, you’ve got all these people who can’t get in. We sent some to Conway (N.H.), and a campground on Corn Shop Road took upwards of 250 people and others did, as well, and it just becomes a major issue.”

The police chief distributed incident reports, at the Aug. 26  selectmen’s meeting.

Overall, there was barely an increase of total offenses from July through August 2009 to the same period in 2010, Weymouth said. Total offenses for July through August 2009 numbered 227 — with 43 in June, 82 in July and 102 in August. There was a total of 233 offenses for July through August 2010 — with 33 in June, 94 in July and 106 in August.

One report shows that from July 1 through July 31, 2010, there were 93 total offenses committed, including five felonies, 10 “crime related incidents” and 13 arrests. There were eight assaults committed in July, and 36 alcohol related offenses. Also, in July, there were 44 motor vehicle infraction tickets issued and 20 warnings handed out, with fines that go to the State of Maine totaling $5,619.

“That’s the amount we raised for the state in fines, of which we do not get anything back,” Chief Weymouth said of the $5,619.

Selectman Eastman asked the police chief, “You’re managing with the same number of people as last year?”

“Yes,” Weymouth replied. “In 2008, we didn’t have as many people, and in 2009 and 2010, they (statistics) are comparable, because we had the same number of people.”

“We handled 44 incidents on the (Saco) River in 2009, and 44 incidents in 2010,” said Weymouth.

The amount of alcohol seized on the Saco River was also listed, including 681 “12 ounce assortment malt liquor.”

“Most of the alcohol offenses (on the River) are either underage drinking or illegal importation — bringing alcohol from New Hampshire into our state,” Chief Weymouth stated. 

As for illegal fireworks confiscated on the Saco River, Weymouth said there were 536 Saturn missiles seized, along with 40 Roman candles, 51 florals and 34 ground effects, as well as miscellaneous others. 

Selectman Eastman asked the police chief, “Even though things aren’t getting worse on the River, are you getting help from the state (agencies)?”

“No,” Weymouth replied.

Eastman asked, “Are they obligated?”

“Only the Maine Warden Service is obligated…but, I don’t think any Warden unit has hit the River, this year at all,” Weymouth said. “The Maine Forest Service never has come. The State Fire Marshal never showed up. As for (the Bureau) of Liquor Enforcement, it is no more.”

Referring to previous roundtable discussions about problems on the Saco River held in years past, Chief Weymouth said, “They all show up at the table. They all have input at the table. They all say they will do what they can, but we don’t see them — they never show up.”

Weymouth said all those involved locally on the Saco River have been very cooperative — private landowners, campground operators, canoe liveries and the Saco River Recreation Council.
f0 “Everyone has done everything they can to cooperate,” the police chief stated. “But, there are still a lot of issues.”  

By Lisa Williams Ackley, The Bridgton News, September 9, 2010


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