Stories about John Morris
Legislative panel lines up week of hearings on Maine gun bills
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers Friday were prepping themselves for a round of hearings, debates and decisions on proposed changes to Maine’s gun laws. In an informational session, the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard from several experts on the state’s gun laws, including Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. ...
Opiate abuse complicates doctors’ efforts to treat pain
The art and science of managing pain has challenged practitioners of both traditional and alternative medicine for centuries. In Maine, the widespread abuse of opiate-based drugs used to treat pain has complicated health care providers’ efforts. It’s a problem that has evolved into a public health and public safety issue. ...
Prescription drug abuse blamed for increase in Maine crime
AUGUSTA, Maine — Mainers addicted to drugs — diverted prescription drugs in particular — are breaking the law to feed their addiction and have caused a troubling increase in the state’s crime rate, Public Safety Commissioner John E. Morris said Tuesday. “Drugs are driving the problem,” the commissioner said in ...
Transportation Committee split about using Highway Fund money for Maine State Police
AUGUSTA, Maine — The immediate issue was funding $36,000 from the Highway Fund for part of the cost of a forensic chemist in the state police crime lab, but it triggered a far broader debate in the Legislature’s Transportation Committee over use of the fund for purposes outside of roads ...
Agreement on LePage’s supplemental budget still elusive
AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Appropriations Committee met Friday into the night and all day Saturday approving some spending items but still have several major budget issues to resolve in the governor’s supplemental budget, from eliminating income taxes on pensions to rewriting the general assistance laws to reduce costs. ...
Legislative panel endorses bill to allow police to raise funds for their own
BANGOR, Maine — Proposed legislation that aims to allow Maine law enforcement officers to donate money in support of their own received a unanimous ought-to-pass vote this week from members of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. Sponsored by Rep. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden, LD 1900 — An Act ...
Shooting of Dexter family brings bipartisan focus to domestic violence bail decisions
By John Christie, ©Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting on Dec. 26, 2011, at 2:08 p.m.
The deaths of Amy, Monica and Coty Lake at the hands of husband and father Steven Lake may be the tragedy that brings major reform to how the criminal justice system handles dangerous domestic violence cases. The June 13 triple murder-suicide is becoming a rallying point for changes in the ...
Chiefs worry about waiting for fire investigations
BANGOR, Maine — The state fire marshal says a month-old change in his office’s policy regarding fire investigations has had little effect on which fires are reviewed, though municipal fire chiefs said they are leery about the impact of the change over time. Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Morris ...
Maine should have just two emergency call centers, top cop says
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine has 26 public safety answering points. Public Safety Commissioner John Morris believes that can be reduced to just two for the entire state. Others are not convinced. Morris suggests fewer answering points will yield savings, possibly enough to fully fund the two remaining call centers. But ...
Legislature gears up for fight over bath salts
AUGUSTA, Maine — The legislation has not been formally introduced, but the battle over Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal increasing the penalties for possessing and trafficking in bath salts got under way Tuesday as the Appropriations Committee considered the process they use to estimate the costs of legislation. “I can tell ...
POLL QUESTION
LePage working with legislators on emergency bath salts bill
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is working with legislators to craft emergency legislation for consideration next month that would further address the growing bath salts epidemic in Maine. Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s spokeswoman, could not provide details of the bill because it’s not complete, but she confirmed Thursday that ...
‘Bath salts’ ban takes effect; state’s top cop seeks to halt drug’s march into Maine
By Mal Leary, Capitol News Service on July 06, 2011, at 4:54 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage signed emergency legislation Wednesday banning a group of synthetic hallucinogens that have been marketed as “bath salts” but are among the most dangerous drugs that Maine Public Safety Commissioner John Morris says he has seen. “It is now contraband and law enforcement can seize ...
INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC
Drug-related crimes increased last year in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s public safety commissioner said the LePage administration already has taken steps to address continued increases in property crimes that are directly related to drug addiction, but he said police alone cannot solve the problem. John Morris, who has been on the job only for a few ...
Maine crime rate rises 3.6 percent in 2010
The Associated Press on May 25, 2011, at 10:28 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Public Safety says crime in the state increased by 3.6 percent last year, as drug abuse pushed up the incidence of robberies and thefts. However, Wednesday’s newly released statistics show a decrease in domestic violence for the third consecutive year. Public Safety Commissioner ...
Retiring state police chief tapped to head gambling control board
AUGUSTA, Maine — On Sunday, Col. Patrick Fleming of Fairfield will officially retire from a 27-year career with the Maine State Police. On Monday, he will begin his new job as executive director of the state’s Gambling Control Board. Fleming was nominated for the post by Public Safety Commissioner John ...
LePage asks Libby to stay with Defense, former Waterville police chief to take Public Safety post
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov.-elect Paul LePage offered a first glimpse into his inner circle on Wednesday, nominating Major Gen. John Libby and former Waterville Police Chief John Morris to head the departments handling public safety and security in his administration. LePage, a Republican, said that Libby has agreed to continue ...
Ethics panel cracks down on attack ads
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Ethics Commission ruled Thursday that a national Republican group failed to promptly notify the state about $400,000 in campaign ads purchased for state Senate races. The Maine Democratic Party had filed a complaint with the commission alleging that the Republican State Leadership Committee may have ...
A better way to help people escape welfare
Problems at the threshold of Maine energy reform
A letter to Michelle Obama in light of military sex assault epidemic