City chips in $4,000 for Chitwood party
Press Herald, others, pony up for farewell bash
By Chris Busby
The City of Portland spent roughly $4,000 to have a digital video retrospective made for former police chief Mike Chitwood’s send-off party. Chitwood resigned earlier this summer to take a job heading the police force in Upper Darby, Pa., near his hometown, Philadelphia.
As the Press Herald reported, the Aug. 17 farewell party cost about $12,000, $8,000 of which was contributed by individuals and businesses, including developer Joe Boulos, Hannaford Bros., and the Press Herald itself. The paper said the remaining $4,000 had yet to be raised, but city spokesperson Peter Dewitt confirmed that the four grand constituted the cost of producing the video, which will be covered with public funds.
The video is available for viewing by contacting City Hall.
Among the luminaries present at the party were Governor John Baldacci, Congressman Tom Allen, and Ed King, publisher of the West End News. King said he approached Chitwood at the end of the evening, leaned in, and whispered in his ear, “You know, I can kick your ass.”
The chief laughed, King said.
