Collins Celebrates Auburn Public Safety Building Groundbreaking, Rebukes Platner’s Claim She Sent Him to War

AUBURN, Maine — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) joined Auburn officials and first responders Thursday for the groundbreaking of the city’s new public safety building, a project she said will strengthen emergency services and provide police and fire personnel with the modern facilities they need to serve the community.

The new facility will replace one of Auburn’s outdated emergency response stations, which no longer meets modern safety, health, and accessibility standards.

Auburn Fire Chief Robert Chase, Police Chief Jason Moen, City Manager Phil Crowell, members of the city’s Fire, Police, and EMS departments, and other local officials joined Collins at the ceremony.

Designed to meet current Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Fire Protection Association health and safety requirements, the new building is expected to improve emergency response times, increase training capacity, and enhance cooperation among emergency services.

The facility will bring Auburn’s police and fire departments together under one roof and will include a secure public entrance, booking area, interview rooms, evidence storage, locker and shower facilities, an apparatus bay, living and bunk areas, training rooms, conference rooms, and community outreach spaces.

“One of the greatest needs in Maine is addressing our many obsolete public safety facilities. That is why I have worked hard to secure nearly $87 million over the past five years for 45 new or renovated stations throughout Maine,” Collins said. “The new public safety building in Auburn will bring the Police and Fire Departments together under one roof, improve the delivery of vital services, and help ensure that first responders have the safe, modern space to train and respond to emergencies that they deserve.”

Collins, who serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $2.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for the Auburn project in 2022 through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill.

“I was proud to secure funding for this project through my role as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to help make this new facility a reality and strengthen emergency services for Auburn and the surrounding communities for years to come,” Collins said.

Crowell praised Collins for her continued support of Auburn and public safety projects throughout Maine.

“Senator Collins has long been a dedicated advocate for Maine communities, especially ours. She actively supports first responders in Auburn and across Maine by continuously securing millions in federal funding for public safety facilities, vehicles, and equipment,” Crowell said. “We’re deeply grateful for her support of Auburn’s Public Safety professionals and we are honored that she is here with us this morning.”

Crowell said Collins has secured funding for 46 projects in Androscoggin County totaling nearly $106 million, including the $2.5 million dedicated to Auburn’s new public safety building.

“Thanks to these targeted investments, our community and our state will be strengthened, and will see real and direct benefits,” Crowell said.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, Collins met with members of the press and addressed comments made by Platner, her presumed opponent in the Senate campaign.

Collins told The Maine Wire that Platner chose to enlist not once, but twice during the Iraq War, and later returned as a contractor for Blackwater.

She rejected Platner’s assertion that Collins sent him to war, saying “that was Platner’s decision to serve, he was not drafted.”