Lewiston Police Face Staffing Shortages

LEWISTON (WGME) – While police departments across Maine continue to struggle with staffing shortages, Lewiston’s police chief says he’s dealing with some recent losses within his department.

The chief says he received a letter of resignation from an officer on Tuesday and that three of his employees recently retired.

He says the Lewiston Police Department currently has 79 officers, seven fewer than it should have.

Starting Wednesday, an agent will be on duty in Lewiston handling Homeland Security investigations at the agency’s local office.

“I’m constantly communicating with them, like, ‘What can we do better and what resources can we steal from you to make our community better?'” Lewiston Police Chief Dave St. Pierre said. “And by having a task force officer there, we’re kind of prioritizing the resources that they have, which is way beyond what we have just at the Lewiston Police Department.”

The police chief says this will help the city tackle crimes related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.