Category: State of Maine

Report of Maine Attorney General Janet Mills on the Use of Deadly Force by Rumford Police Sergeant Tracey Higley in Rumford, Maine (2014)

July 29, 2014

Editor’s Note: For the record on Friday, June 6th, 2025, we cannot in good faith read this Maine Attorney General’s report especially after noticing Janet Mills, the grand protector of all Maine “authorities,” was the Attorney General in 2014. This takes this abuse of power saga in Western Maine to a whole new level. Janet … More Report of Maine Attorney General Janet Mills on the Use of Deadly Force by Rumford Police Sergeant Tracey Higley in Rumford, Maine (2014)

Gerard Paul Dupont, 88, of Gilead, Maine Passed Away (2014)

May 7, 2014

Obituary: Gerard Paul Dupont, 88, of Gilead, Maine passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at Ledgeview Living Center. He was born in St. Lambert, De Lauzon, Quebec, Canada on November 11, 1925 the son of Napoleon and Leda Guay Dupont. He married Edna Dion on August 16, 1947 and enjoyed 57 years of marriage … More Gerard Paul Dupont, 88, of Gilead, Maine Passed Away (2014)

Bangor Daily News Reported “Maine Woman Shot By Rumford Police Accused of Threatening Authorities With a Knife” (2014)

April 26, 2014

The entire time we lived in rural Maine, we watched the cops, authorities, and the media dehumanize Maine citizens. They turned traumatized people, those with disabilities, those who are poor, and those who were sick and/or addicted into criminals to justify the budgets to keep their fat government jobs funded in an area where there … More Bangor Daily News Reported “Maine Woman Shot By Rumford Police Accused of Threatening Authorities With a Knife” (2014)

Complaint to Maine Attorney General: Overview of Police Officer’s Disturbing History Prior to Officer Involved Shooting of A Suicidal Woman With Mental Illness (2014)

April 11, 2014

OFFICER X IS INVOLVED IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING (2014): EXAMPLE OF E-MAIL SENT TO LOCAL MEDIA AFTER INCIDENT: RESPONSE FROM THE REPORTER AT THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD: LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO INVESTIGATES ALL OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS (2014): April 11, 2014 To Whom It May Concern (Attorney General): My name is Jennifer Norris and … More Complaint to Maine Attorney General: Overview of Police Officer’s Disturbing History Prior to Officer Involved Shooting of A Suicidal Woman With Mental Illness (2014)

Portland Press Herald Reported “Friends of Maine Woman Left Confused by Police Shooting” (2014)

March 20, 2014

RUMFORD — John Moore was watching “Hogan’s Heroes” on television Tuesday afternoon when he heard yelling in the backyard. He opened the door to his deck and saw his friend Jessica Byrn-Francisco standing there, facing a police officer about 10 feet away. She had something in her hand, but he couldn’t see what it was. … More Portland Press Herald Reported “Friends of Maine Woman Left Confused by Police Shooting” (2014)

Portland Press Herald Reported “Reportedly Suicidal Woman Shot by Rumford Cop” (2014)

March 18, 2014

“A 25-year-old suicidal woman armed with a knife was shot and wounded by a veteran Rumford police officer late Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. She was hospitalized and reported to be in stable condition late Tuesday night. The Maine Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the police shooting, and the officer involved, Sgt. Tracey … More Portland Press Herald Reported “Reportedly Suicidal Woman Shot by Rumford Cop” (2014)

Navigating Life After Losing a Parent: Jennifer, Lee, Onyx and Sarge Visit William R. Stowell’s Gravesite on the 12th Anniversary of Death (September 14, 2013)

September 14, 2013

At thirty, you think you still have time. Time to ask more questions. Time to sit a little longer at the kitchen table. Time to notice the small things—like how your father always paused before answering, not because he didn’t know what to say, but because he wanted to say it right. You don’t expect … More Navigating Life After Losing a Parent: Jennifer, Lee, Onyx and Sarge Visit William R. Stowell’s Gravesite on the 12th Anniversary of Death (September 14, 2013)

The Power of Shared Memories: Jennifer and Lee Celebrate William R. Stowell’s Birthday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine (March 21, 2013)

March 21, 2013

There are dates that don’t pass quietly. They return each year with weight—carrying memory, love, and a kind of ache that never really leaves. My dad’s birthday is one of those days. In 2013, Lee and I chose not to spend it in silence or avoidance. Instead, we drove to Sunday River Ski Resort in … More The Power of Shared Memories: Jennifer and Lee Celebrate William R. Stowell’s Birthday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine (March 21, 2013)

The Portland Press Herald Reported the Series “Deadly Force: Police and the Mentally Ill” (2012)

December 8, 2012

Deadly Force: Police and the Mentally Ill:Part 1: When police pull the trigger in crisis, the mentally ill often are the ones being shotPart 2: Across nation, unsettling acceptance when mentally ill in crisis are killedPart 3: Maine police make spotty use of crisis trainingPart 4: Families mostly powerless when mentally ill adult resists help … More The Portland Press Herald Reported the Series “Deadly Force: Police and the Mentally Ill” (2012)