Exonerated detectives put back on payroll

PORTLAND – Two Portland police detectives acquitted of brutality charges will begin drawing paychecks for the first time since January.

Patrick DeCourcey, 31, and Brian Regan, 34, were placed on unpaid leave after their indictment on charges they beat a handcuffed suspect after a high-speed chase last fall.

Chief Michael Chitwood said Monday the change in their status came after a Cumberland County Superior Court jury found both detectives innocent of all charges.

“Now that there’s a not-guilty verdict, I will put them both back on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation,” Chitwood said. The chief said he had no timetable on how long the investigation would take.

Michael Esposito, an admitted drug user, has filed a $4.8 million lawsuit that claims officers used excessive force against him after the Sept. 26 arrest in Portland’s West End. Named as defendants are the city, its police department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and a total of six officers, including DeCourcey and Regan.

Regan testified that he punched Esposito twice on the left side of his face after Esposito tried to head-butt him. Two other officers said they saw Regan jump on the suspect and hit him several times.