The search for the gunman behind a mass shooting in Maine in October was described as chaotic in an after-action report obtained by The Associated Press. The report detailed a situation where officers rushed to secure the scene where the gunman had abandoned his car after killing 18 people, leading to confusion and potential danger. One group of deputies had been drinking and nearly crashed their armored vehicle, while others showed up in civilian clothes, risking being mistaken for the suspect. The report noted that officers who arrived without orders could have done more harm than good.
Another tactical team from Cumberland County also responded to the incident and nearly crashed their vehicle into the Portland Police Department team. There were reports of intoxicants coming from the Cumberland vehicle, but Sheriff Kevin Joyce denied any officers were intoxicated at the scene. The report described the chaos and self-dispatching of officers in a way that one officer had never seen before in his career, highlighting the need for improvements in communication and coordination during such events. The commission investigating the shooting expressed intent to address some of the disturbing allegations in the report.
Both the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Department tactical teams were responding to the location where the shooter’s vehicle was abandoned near the Androscoggin River after the mass shooting. The gunman, an Army reservist, had killed 18 people and wounded 13 others at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston. His body was found nearby two days later after he died by suicide. The report raised concerns about self-dispatching officers who arrived in plain clothes that could have created a dangerous situation where officers could have mistaken each other for the suspect.
The chaotic hours after the shooting involved multiple law enforcement agencies mobilizing for a search and police officers pouring into the region. As the investigation continues, the commission plans to address some of the disturbing allegations in the report, while others may be outside of their scope. The report recommended improvements in communication and coordination among officers responding to such incidents to prevent confusion and risky situations. The Portland team criticized the self-dispatching officers for creating a potentially dangerous situation with the risk of officers exchanging fire with each other in a wooded area near the abandoned vehicle, highlighting the need for better training and protocols in such scenarios.
Tactical vehicles used by the Cumberland Sheriff’s Office and Portland police were apparently not aware of each other’s presence during the search for the gunman. The Portland team arrived first and took measures to prevent police cruisers from becoming potential targets. The report highlighted the need for better communication and coordination among responding agencies in high-stress situations like a mass shooting incident to prevent confusion and potential dangers. As the commission continues its investigation, witnesses will provide testimony on communications and coordination problems that arose during the search for the gunman behind the mass shooting in Maine.
