NH chief defends police handling of case of woman who left home after going off bipolar meds

NH chief defends actions in missing woman case

PORTLAND, Maine — A New Hampshire police chief is defending his department’s handling of the case of a missing woman who died from apparent exposure to cold weather in Maine.

Sarah Rogers’ family says Barrington police knew she was a threat to herself and others because she had become distraught after going off her medication for bipolar disorder. They say police delayed issuing a bulletin for out-of-state police to be on the lookout.

Maine State Police say they would’ve searched harder when they found Rogers’ abandoned car Dec. 13 if they’d known about her background. Her body was found last weekend.

Barrington Police Chief Richard Conway tells the Portland Press Herald that officers acted appropriately based on what they knew at the time.

Information from: Portland Press Herald, www.pressherald.com