Maine state police would join a list of other state law enforcement agencies that have already introduced body cameras. The Bangor Police Department acquired body cameras for its more than 80 officers in 2021. Portland Police, the second-largest agency in the state with just over 150 officers, set up agency-wide cameras in 2019. South Portland Police Department officials have been wearing body cameras since early 2017. The state`s largest law enforcement agency, the Maine State Police, began tracking body cameras in 2021. It began by equipping its approximately 300 officers with cameras to maintain accountability and provide unbiased records of interactions with police. The agency has already considered adding body cameras, but the budget has hampered the plan. The size of the agency and the wide geographic coverage it covers, including rural areas, have resulted in cost estimates of between $3.5 million and $4 million for cameras. However, due to a surplus in the governor`s budget, body cameras are now included as budget items in a budget proposal that brings the agency closer to its goal than ever before. As more and more law enforcement agencies introduce body cameras for their officers in Maine, they have to solve the challenges of policy, storage, drafting, etc. These issues may seem overwhelming to an organization, but adding adaptive solutions to public documents can be critical to improving processes.
To learn more about the impact of body camera images on law enforcement processes, click here. If a loved one dies outside their home in Maine, you may want to arrange for the body to be picked up and returned to Maine for availability. Transporting a body internationally can be quite complex, but it is common. Visit our Funeral Shipping page for more information on domestic and international transfers. However, in many cases, it is often easier and cheaper to arrange cremation where your loved one died and then transport the ashes to or from Maine. In the end, the bill died, but several law enforcement agencies across the state have since taken the initiative to implement body cameras, or at least begin the planning process. From Maine State Police to individual cities, body cameras are on the minds of law enforcement agencies across the state. This comes with the need to determine how body camera footage is handled and opens up discussion about the investigations surrounding police shootings. A corporation does not need to be embalmed under Maine law. However, some funeral homes will determine that embalming is necessary based on certain services. For example, when an inspection or open coffin service is performed or when a body is transported across state borders.
In 2019, a bill submitted to the Maine Legislature attempted to ensure that every state law enforcement officer is equipped with a body camera by early 2021. The demand led to a rift between supporters and opponents of the law and would have meant a major shift to Maine`s public safety policy. Donating your body to medical science has been an end-of-life decision for some time, but it has certainly gained popularity recently. For many, it now seems to be a valuable method of disposition, which is why it is commonly referred to as an “anatomical gift.” MedCure is a national organization that offers an anatomical donation program that allows you to donate your body to science and the benefits of future generations. They organize the collection of the deceased, the medical donation, the cremation of the mortal remains and the free return of the remains to the family within 3 to 6 weeks. The University of New England also runs a full body donation program. “Thank you for the helpful information that helped me understand how to make funeral plans for my mother at the hospice. I found many helpful tips on how to save cremation costs by asking questions about direct cremation and then holding my own monument.
And advice on cremation laws helped clarify how to prepare. Maine has no law that specifically regulates the publication of body camera images. Although the Freedom of Access Act provides for the requirement for public records, there are more than 300 exceptions to disclosure. The review of images may include, for example, determining whether a public servant has violated departmental guidelines and is subject to disciplinary action. This would fall under personnel records exempt from Maine`s Freedom of Access Act. Some have called for a political review of exceptions and have increased the effectiveness of body camera images. Former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling explained that the wording of the Public Records Act undermines the “transparency value” of cameras and generally advocates broad disclosure. “We`ve seen in other communities where sharing these videos improves community trust and not getting them out creates mistrust,” Stimling said. Perhaps because the release of body camera videos was subjective, a law that went into effect in October 2021 now gives the Maine Attorney General`s Office 180 days to determine whether the use of lethal force is warranted.
The law also gives the Attorney General`s Office the ability to broadcast video footage of the shootings in order to speed up the investigation. The law is a response to the increase in police shootings in Maine and the delay in the investigation; As of October 2021, the state had opened 19 investigations into the use of lethal force, the oldest dating back to 2018. Yes, if you wish, you can prepare the deceased yourself and make the necessary arrangements. You will need to apply for the death certificate and a burial or cremation permit. There is NO legal requirement in Maine that requires you to use the services of a funeral director. The “authorized person” responsible for disposing of the body is the next of kin or the person signed by the next of kin. The authorized person has the power to dispose of the corpse as he wishes, provided that the corresponding authorizations have been obtained. The authorized person can keep the body at home, build a coffin, transport the body to the crematorium or cemetery, collect the ashes, arrange their own funeral service and do the paperwork themselves. It is possible to arrange a funeral at home for as little as $500.
Supporters of the bill not only expressed that greater accountability would result, but also touted body cameras as a tool to understand what happened in incidents where a firearm was fired. Opponents of the bill, including the Maine Police Association, expressed concern that body cameras would not accurately capture the situation as it unfolds, or what happened immediately before the incident. Of course, ocean scattering is popular in Maine, but you should be aware of EPA regulations. Funerals at sea must be held 3 nautical miles away and provide written notice to the local EPA representative within 30 days.