BIDDEFORD (AP) — About 80 people implored city leaders to suspend the police chief and push for an outside investigation amid sexual abuse accusations against two former officers.

The Biddeford City Council and mayor met with the community Thursday after Mellisa Luedke collected more than 100 signatures.

Luedke and other citizens called the meeting to air grievances after they felt the council did not take them seriously at a May 5 meeting. She and others had called for the resignation of city leaders after they did not vote to suspend Police Chief Roger Beaupre and Deputy Police Chief Joanne Fisk.

The councilors were not permitted to respond at the meeting.

Beaupre and Fisk didn’t comment on the request to have them suspended. State law prevents them from discussing investigations.