A nearly year-long investigation into how Maine law enforcement agencies handle complaints against officers has uncovered widespread inconsistencies in record keeping and the public’s ability to access the information.WMTW’s 8 Investigates team partnered with the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition to review hundreds of documents and data that were obtained.The coalition contacted 135 Maine law enforcement agencies as part of the investigation. They were asked to provide the number of citizen complaints against officers from 2016 until now and details on any disciplinary action.The data and documents produced, or lack thereof, made clear that although it is public information, Maine has no uniform system for tracking and maintaining the records.“To have this many police departments not respond at all I think is a gross violation of the public’s trust,” New England First Amendment Coalition Executive Director Justin Silverman said.Silverman said he was taken aback by the overwhelming lack of transparency.“Is that acceptable? I think we’ve got some work to do to be able to make sure that we’re a little more uniform,” said Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills.Mills is also the president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. He offered no excuses for department heads not responding but explained how strained resources might make data requests complicated.“They don’t all have that same data system. They don’t have that stuff at their fingertips,” Mills said.Of the agencies surveyed, 52% provided an aggregate number of complaints against officers, and 32% demonstrated disciplinary action having been taken against at least one officer.“And really fails to meet any expectation that we would have that these departments are going to be open and transparent with us in the way that we need them to be,” Silverman said.The Portland Police Department reported the most complaints at 116 with 2020 data still unavailable. The Augusta Police Department reported 71 complaints, with 18 incidents resulting in discipline. Kennebunk police reported 55 complaints, with none of the events resulting in discipline.Maine State Police said the agency does not maintain an aggregate number of complaints but reported 17 disciplinary incidents.“We now know that we’re not getting the information we need,” Silverman said.Incidents resulting in disciplinary action included a written reprimand from Pittsfield’s Town Manager to Police Chief Pete Bickmore for failing to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidance while ill. Documents released by the Waterville Police Department revealed Officer Brian Gardiner was demoted for allegedly having a “sexual in nature” extramarital affair while on duty. Internal documents from the Skowhegan Police Department show officer Alex Burns was assigned to write a 500-word essay, with citations, on “the importance of following orders” over accusations of being insubordinate. While most police departments agreed to waive fees, nine departments requested payment for time to collate documents. In several cases, the coalition withdrew requests due to payments deemed excessive.The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office asked for $353 to provide the documents, and the Sanford Police Department provided a cost estimate of at least $225.“We have to look at these agencies that are already struggling for staff so how do we compensate or hire the staff to provide these documents but at the same time being transparent,” Mills said.Silverman expressed support for regulations to maintain data but also stressed the importance of existing freedom of information laws, which numerous departments flouted.“First, we need to make sure that law enforcement agencies are following the law, right? There’s no excuse for not responding to a public records request,” Silverman said.Mills said he is confident that clearer guidelines would boost compliance.“Tell us what the policy is. Tell us what the uniformity is so we can all be doing it the same,” Mills said.Silverman was adamant that the information requested is critical for transparency.“What this study does present for those in Maine is an opportunity to acknowledge that we’re not getting the information that we need so let’s do something about it,” Silverman said.The data represents a fraction of the findings from the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. The group also obtained numerous documents related to police misconduct and discipline.
A nearly year-long investigation into how Maine law enforcement agencies handle complaints against officers has uncovered widespread inconsistencies in record keeping and the public’s ability to access the information.
WMTW’s 8 Investigates team partnered with the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition to review hundreds of documents and data that were obtained.
The coalition contacted 135 Maine law enforcement agencies as part of the investigation. They were asked to provide the number of citizen complaints against officers from 2016 until now and details on any disciplinary action.
The data and documents produced, or lack thereof, made clear that although it is public information, Maine has no uniform system for tracking and maintaining the records.
“To have this many police departments not respond at all I think is a gross violation of the public’s trust,” New England First Amendment Coalition Executive Director Justin Silverman said.
Silverman said he was taken aback by the overwhelming lack of transparency.
“Is that acceptable? I think we’ve got some work to do to be able to make sure that we’re a little more uniform,” said Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills.
Mills is also the president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. He offered no excuses for department heads not responding but explained how strained resources might make data requests complicated.
“They don’t all have that same data system. They don’t have that stuff at their fingertips,” Mills said.
Of the agencies surveyed, 52% provided an aggregate number of complaints against officers, and 32% demonstrated disciplinary action having been taken against at least one officer.
“And really fails to meet any expectation that we would have that these departments are going to be open and transparent with us in the way that we need them to be,” Silverman said.
The Portland Police Department reported the most complaints at 116 with 2020 data still unavailable. The Augusta Police Department reported 71 complaints, with 18 incidents resulting in discipline. Kennebunk police reported 55 complaints, with none of the events resulting in discipline.
Maine State Police said the agency does not maintain an aggregate number of complaints but reported 17 disciplinary incidents.
“We now know that we’re not getting the information we need,” Silverman said.
Incidents resulting in disciplinary action included a written reprimand from Pittsfield’s Town Manager to Police Chief Pete Bickmore for failing to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidance while ill.
Documents released by the Waterville Police Department revealed Officer Brian Gardiner was demoted for allegedly having a “sexual in nature” extramarital affair while on duty.
Internal documents from the Skowhegan Police Department show officer Alex Burns was assigned to write a 500-word essay, with citations, on “the importance of following orders” over accusations of being insubordinate.
While most police departments agreed to waive fees, nine departments requested payment for time to collate documents. In several cases, the coalition withdrew requests due to payments deemed excessive.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office asked for $353 to provide the documents, and the Sanford Police Department provided a cost estimate of at least $225.
“We have to look at these agencies that are already struggling for staff so how do we compensate or hire the staff to provide these documents but at the same time being transparent,” Mills said.
Silverman expressed support for regulations to maintain data but also stressed the importance of existing freedom of information laws, which numerous departments flouted.
“First, we need to make sure that law enforcement agencies are following the law, right? There’s no excuse for not responding to a public records request,” Silverman said.
Mills said he is confident that clearer guidelines would boost compliance.
“Tell us what the policy is. Tell us what the uniformity is so we can all be doing it the same,” Mills said.
Silverman was adamant that the information requested is critical for transparency.
“What this study does present for those in Maine is an opportunity to acknowledge that we’re not getting the information that we need so let’s do something about it,” Silverman said.
The data represents a fraction of the findings from the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. The group also obtained numerous documents related to police misconduct and discipline.
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