AUGUSTA, Maine – State police in Maine faced criticism for their response to a deadly mass shooting at a bowling alley and bar last fall. The shooting, which left 18 people dead, marked the deadliest in the state’s history. It took police two days to locate the body of the shooter, Robert Card, who died by suicide. Many Maine residents were ordered to take shelter in their homes during the search.
Police defended their actions before an independent panel appointed by the governor, citing the challenging nature of the shooting incident involving two separate locations and the subsequent intense search. State Police Chief Col. Bill Ross emphasized the immense pressure faced by law enforcement to locate Card and described the situation as extremely challenging.
One of the concerns that delayed the search of the woods surrounding Card’s abandoned car was the fear of a potential late-night ambush. Major Lucas Hare, who heads the state police operations division, highlighted the possibility that Card, a former Army reservist, might have had thermal gun scope or night-vision capabilities, making the search a significant risk for patrol officers.
The search operation was further complicated by the involvement of hundreds of officers from various police agencies, leading to confusion and tension. Additionally, police cited multiple reasons for not deploying dog teams to search the area, including the delay in initiating the search, exhaust from police vehicles masking the shooter’s scent, and the lack of any heat signature found by an overhead helicopter.
The commission established by Governor Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey aimed to evaluate whether changes to existing laws could prevent such tragedies in the future and determine if there were missed opportunities to prevent the shooting. The panel also heard about warning signs related to Card’s deteriorating mental health in the months leading up to the shooting, including multiple instances where authorities were alerted to his concerning behavior.
In conclusion, the shooting incident at the bowling alley and bar in Maine raised questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement responses to mass shootings and the need for preventive measures to address individuals showing signs of potential violence. The commission’s findings will be crucial in shaping future policies to safeguard against similar tragedies.