The Maine State Police have announced the completion of an independent review of the after-action report following the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston on October 25, 2023. The review, conducted by the New England State Police Administrators Conference, was requested by Maine State Police Col. William Ross in the wake of the shooting that left 18 people dead.
The shooting, which took place at a bowling alley and a bar and grill, shook the community to its core. The gunman’s body was found two days later, having died by apparent suicide. The review, released almost a year after the incident, was chaired by Vermont State Police Col. Matthew Birmingham and included recommendations on crime scene protocols, software, and training.
In the report, it was acknowledged that mistakes would inevitably occur in events of this magnitude, but the review aimed to identify those mistakes so they could be learned from. The report stated, “We hope our review provides some answers to your questions and offers lessons learned that may help other survivors, victims, and communities in the future.”
Ross emphasized the importance of continued training, policy review, and collaboration with partner agencies to make improvements moving forward. The review serves as a tool to begin this process and ensure that law enforcement is better prepared to handle similar situations in the future.
