Maine State Police Defend Use-of-Force Investigations, Lawmakers Have Unanswered Questions

Maine State Police defend use-of-force investigations, lawmakers have unanswered questions

Between 2020 and 2025, Maine State Police has received 21 use-of-force complaints

Public safety chief ducks questions on excessive force lawsuit

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck speaks at a press conference in Augusta on April 19, 2023. Photo by Troy R. Bennett of the Bangor Daily News.This story appears as part of a collaboration between The Maine Monitor and Maine Focus, the investigative team of the Bangor Daily News, a partnership to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine. You can show your support for this effort with a donation to The Monitor. Read more abou…

Maine’s public safety chief ducks lawmaker questions on excessive force lawsuit

Maine’s public safety chief refused to answer scant questions from lawmakers on Tuesday about the state police’s internal review of a chaotic 2024 arrest in which a trooper repeatedly punched a handcuffed man in the face. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschiuck, and the state police’s No. 2, Lt. Col. Brian Scott, went before the Legislature’s criminal justice and public safety committee to brief members on the agency’s use of…

Questions left unanswered after Maine DPS leaders speak before state lawmakers

The Department of Public Safety appeared before lawmakers to outline procedures for handling complaints, but were tight-lipped on some questions.

Lawmakers receive policy briefing from public safety officials following excess force complaints against state police

AUGUSTA -- Maine's public safety chief faced questioning from lawmakers Tuesday regarding the review process for use of force or complaints against state police.