The after-action report on the search for the gunman behind a mass shooting in Maine last October revealed incidents of chaos and unprofessional behavior among law enforcement officers. The report described how officers from various agencies rushed to secure the scene where the gunman had killed 18 people, with some officers showing up in civilian clothes without orders, risking doing more harm than good. One tactical team from Cumberland County nearly crashed their vehicle into another team’s armored car, creating a dangerous situation.
The report detailed a concerning incident where an armored vehicle from Cumberland County came dangerously close to striking another vehicle carrying officers from the Portland Police Department. The occupants of the Cumberland vehicle were reported to have smelled of intoxicants, claiming they had come from a funeral. The report highlighted issues of self-dispatching, federal involvement, and overall chaos that hindered the efficiency and effectiveness of the search for the gunman.
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce refuted any claims of intoxicated officers, stating that an internal investigation cleared his officers and that no one was determined to be intoxicated at the scene. The report raised concerns over the conduct and actions of the officers during the search for the gunman, as well as the lack of coordination and communication among the responding agencies. The report, obtained through the state’s Freedom of Access Act, shed light on the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to the mass shooting incident.
Law enforcement agencies were mobilized to search for the gunman after he abandoned his vehicle by the Androscoggin River following the shooting at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston. The gunman, an Army reservist, killed 18 people and wounded 13 others before taking his own life. The commission investigating the shooting intends to address the concerning allegations raised in the report, including the issue of self-dispatching officers and lack of coordination among tactical teams.
The chaotic hours following the mass shooting revealed the challenges faced by law enforcement in coordinating a search for the gunman. Reports of self-dispatching officers arriving in civilian clothes and lack of communication among tactical teams highlighted the need for better coordination and training. The commission reconvenes to hear further testimony on the communications and coordination problems faced by law enforcement during the search for the gunman behind the state’s deadliest shooting incident. The report serves as a critical assessment of the response to the mass shooting, highlighting areas for improvement in future responses to similar incidents.
