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REGION In recent years recruitment and retention for police departments in Maine and across the U.S. has become more and more of a challenge. In Franklin and Oxford counties, local forces have fared a little better than more urban communities. But the pandemic has stalled high school and college law enforcement education, as well as the residential certifications sessions held twice a year at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro.
The academy’s programming remained in limbo for months as public gathering and social distancing restrictions made it impossible to operate. Some classes were able to continue using Zoom and other virtual technology. But practical police training must be hands-on and as real to life as possible.
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State police won’t release pursuit policy in wake of turnpike chase that led to injuries, 2 deaths
Maine State Police cite a sweeping and flexible public records exemption in withholding the policy on how and when troopers are permitted to chase suspects.
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A damaged 2002 Ford Super Duty pickup towing a U-Haul trailer sits beside the southbound lanes of the Maine Turnpike on Tuesday after the driver, David Stoddard, 49, of Topsham, led police on a high-speed chase from Kennebunk to York, according to Maine State Police. The pursuit ended when Stoddard crashed near mile marker 4. Maine State Police photo