Governor Janet Mills (D) in her opening statement yesterday agreed with the Commission’s conclusion that the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s office and the US Army Reserve failed to take actions that could have changed the course of events leading up to last October’s shooting tragedy in Lewiston.

“At the core, this tragedy was caused by a colossal failure of human judgment by several people on several occasions, a profound negligence that – as the Commission rightly stated – was an abdication of responsibility,” said Governor Janet Mills (D) yesterday afternoon in a press release issued by her office following her press conference in her Augusta office on the report.

“As I have said in th past, understanding the facts and circumstances of the tragedy is a conrnerstone of healing.  Another cornerstone is accountability.” Her press release continud:  “With respect to the Sagahahoc County Sheriff’s office, the Governor uged the voters of Sagadahoc County read and consider the Independent Commission’s (IC) findings before casting a vote in the election for County Sheriff this November.  The IC unanimously concluded that the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s office had probable cause to take the perpetrator into protective custody under Maine’s Extreme Risk Protection Order and to initiate a petition to confiscate his firearms but failed to do so.

With respect to the US Army Reserve, Govrnor Mills sent a letter to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling on him to ensure full implementation of a series of US Army Rserve recommenations outlined in the Army’s July  report designed to improve the oversight and care of its personnel.

With the release of this Report, the Governor said:  “We take another step forward on that long road to healing.”

For a statement by the four members of the Maine delegation on the IC Report, please visit post herein dated September 6, 2024.

For information on the tragedy in Lewiston last October, please visit multiple posts herein.  They are dated October 25, 27 abd 28, 2023.