The search for the gunman behind the mass shooting in Maine was a chaotic and tumultuous experience according to an after-action report obtained by The Associated Press. Officers from different agencies responded to the scene where the shooter abandoned his car after killing 18 people, with some arriving without orders and risking more harm than good. One group of deputies from Cumberland County that responded was described as nearly crashing their armored vehicle into another group of officers from Portland police, with the vehicle coming within 20-30 feet of striking them. The report also mentioned the smell of intoxicants coming from the Cumberland vehicle.
The report by the Portland Police Department highlighted the amount of self-dispatching and federal involvement, as well as the chaos caused by officers showing up in civilian clothes that resembled the suspect. Despite the accusations of intoxicated officers at the scene, Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce stated that an internal investigation cleared his officers of any intoxication. The report raised disturbing allegations that the independent commission investigating the shooting intends to address, but the issue of drinking may be outside of their scope. The report, partially redacted, was obtained through the state’s Freedom of Access Act.
Following the shooting in which an Army reservist killed 18 people and wounded 13 others at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, law enforcement agencies responded to the location where the gunman’s vehicle was abandoned by the Androscoggin River. The report was especially critical of the self-dispatching officers and suggested that officers arriving in civilian clothes created a dangerous situation where officers could have inadvertently exchanged fire with each other. The tactical teams from Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Department were unaware of each other’s presence, and the Portland team attempted to keep police cruisers off a bridge to prevent officers from becoming targets.
The search for the gunman was marked by numerous challenges, including officers showing up without orders, the close call between the Cumberland County and Portland tactical vehicles, and the risk of officers potentially mistaking each other for the suspect. The independent commission investigating the shooting intends to address some of the disturbing allegations raised in the report, with a focus on communications and coordination problems during the chaotic hours after the incident. The panel reconvenes to hear from witnesses about the challenges faced during the search for the gunman and the coordination among different law enforcement agencies involved in the response.
Overall, the report highlights the difficulties and dangers faced by law enforcement agencies during the search for the gunman in Maine’s deadliest shooting. The chaotic and disorganized response, including self-dispatching officers and potential misunderstandings between different tactical teams, underscore the challenges of managing a large-scale incident. The investigation into the shooting continues, with the focus on addressing the issues raised in the report and improving communication and coordination among law enforcement agencies during crisis situations. The lessons learned from this incident will likely inform future responses to similar incidents in order to prevent chaos and confusion among responders.
