Last Friday night, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) was on the lookout for criminal activity in South Portland, closely monitoring the area which has recently been a hub for protest. According to their report, this site houses a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The PPB highlighted that while they do not conduct immigration enforcement, as stated in PPB Directive 810.10, their role in maintaining public safety and upholding state laws remains steadfast.
Despite the recent upheaval, the PPB made no arrests during their surveillance operation. They reiterated that the absence of immediate arrests doesn’t necessarily equate to a lack of criminal charges. The police claim, future prosecutions could arise as ongoing investigations continue. “Just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, that does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later, ” the Bureau stated. The Incident Command Team was again called into action, coordinating a range of resources that included Dialogue Liaison Officers, Rapid Response Team, and a Sound Truck, along with various partners.
No instances of force were noted by PPB officials, nor were there any injuries reported among officers during the monitoring. This falls in line with the general trend of protests in the area which, while vocal, have not been characterized by violence. The Incident Command Team’s role was to manage the law enforcement resources effectively, maintaining order while presumably allowing individuals to exercise their right to peaceful assembly…