MAINE PUBLIC • January 2, 2025
Maine's highest court is taking up a case that could decide whether municipal park rangers must be trained as law enforcement officers. The case stems from an incident when a Portland park ranger issued a summons to Marc Lesperance for walking through Baxter Woods with a dog that was off-leash. Lesperance is now appealing a District Court judgment against him. He is arguing that the park ranger had no authority to issue the summons or enforce a statute because the ranger was not a trained law enforcement officer. A provision in state law says that "constables shall be appointed in the same manner and with the same effect as special police officers." The Law Court has invited parties to file amicus briefs addressing whether a municipal constable must complete the basic training program offered by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. The court is also asking for arguments on whether municipalities can appoint a person to enforce a local ordinance if that person is not a "constable" under Maine law.