Sheriff denies officers responding to Maine shooting were drinking

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A sheriff denies an allegation that some of his officers arrived at a mass shooting scene reeked of alcohol, saying in a statement that all the officers were on duty or had just completed training before Lewiston police requested their assistance.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in a statement Wednesday that he “wholeheartedly” denies all allegations in a statement. Portland Police After Action Report this suggested that his officers had been drinking, returned from a funeral, and rushed off without orders.

Joyce said it was unfortunate he had to defend himself against “unfounded allegations” that arose after the deadliest mass shooting in state history as officers across the state headed to Lewiston on October 25, 2023. In the darkness, a Cumberland County tactical vehicle nearly crashed into a Portland vehicle near where the shooter's vehicle was discovered after 18 people were killed in two places.

Joyce said the driver of the Cumberland County mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicle was a police officer who was on duty in his municipality before showing up at the scene.

The head of Portland's Special Response Team wrote that he spoke to the occupants of the Cumberland County vehicle and smelled an “intoxicant.” He reported that they said they were coming from a funeral and responded “we don't know” when asked who sent them to the scene. A Portland police spokesperson said Thursday he had no further comment on the report.

Joyce said in his statement that he was never informed, until the Portland report surfaced six months after the shooting, of potential misconduct while at the command post of police on October 25 or in the weeks that followed.

“I am confident that our members responded to the mass casualty event in Lewiston in a manner that was both sober and professional. I am proud of my staff for their actions and response on that fateful day,” the sheriff said.