Different computer systems present challenges to Maine police departments across county lines
Did you know that Maine’s police departments do not have an integrated computer system? This means investigators need to place phone calls to neighboring jurisdictions to get critical information. From WGME:
Biddeford can see every other police department’s notes and information across York County.
Cumberland County, and about half the state, use a different system that doesn’t allow them to share info.
Fisk remembers looking for a suspect in a bank robbery, going off a description of their tattoos.
“Using the same CAD system, we can search for individuals with like tattoos,” Fisk said. “Without sharing that CAD system, you have to make a phone call to everybody that you suspect may be tied in. ‘Do you have a person on file who has these kinds of tattoos?’”
Right now, Gorham police are looking for suspects after a van was spotted reportedly shooting people and cars with pellet or BB guns, including in Buxton, across county lines.
“It can hinder investigations. There’s no question about it,” Gorham Police Chief Christopher Sanborn said.
Franklin County and Oxford Counties are also on separate systems.
Wilton Police Chief Ethan Kyes is investigating a recent juvenile crime spree in his town, but the suspects were arrested an hour away in Oxford.
“I can’t see anything from Oxford. Basically we wait for them to email it to us, or give us a hard copy,” Kyes said. “If everyone was on the same system, it would work a lot smoother.”