📰BIDDEFORD | Mayor LaFountain Calls for "Corrective Action"
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
"The fact that ICE is swimming in billions of taxpayer dollars and can’t perform a basic function like properly equipping its people is a severe indictment. Corrective action is required immediately, as both Senator Collins and Senator King have made clear."
Statement from Mayor Liam LaFountain, 12:22 a.m., July 15, 2026
"My family and I continue to be very disturbed and upset by what happened to Johan on Monday, July 13, as is the Biddeford community. This is so hard for everyone to process. The City of Biddeford and its people continue to receive messages of support from around the nation and around the world. Today saw several developments.
-Through appropriate channels and with proper sensitivity, I am staying in contact with those working with Johan's family. The City is doing its best to be as helpful as possible.
-With the help of Sweetser (sweetser.org), the City of Biddeford is making mental health services available to Johan’s family, friends and neighbors, and anybody who may have been affected by Monday’s tragic shooting.
-I visited privately with neighbors last night and hope to do so again.
-Senator Collins called me Tuesday morning to advise that ICE has been instructed to halt its traffic stops. I appreciated the call, and I want that ban to be permanent, not a temporary public relations move by ICE.
-The Atlantic reported Tuesday afternoon that the ICE agent who fired the shots was a recent hire. The community needs more information on that, his training, and the identity and status of that particular agent.
-I totally agree with Maine’s Governor and our federal delegation who have made it clear that state law enforcement must be fully involved in the investigation, which must have as much transparency as possible. Maine people trust Maine law enforcement.
-A central issue in this incident has become the lack of body cameras on those agents. That is totally unacceptable. I know that both Senator Collins and Senator King are forcefully pressing that issue with DHS Secretary Mullin.
-In Biddeford, our police officers are fully equipped with body cameras. The department's annual budget is less than $10 million, and they’ve had these cameras in the field for almost a decade. The fact that ICE is swimming in billions of taxpayer dollars and can’t perform a basic function like properly equipping its people is a severe indictment. Corrective action is required immediately, as both Senator Collins and Senator King have made clear.
Events have moved very quickly in the last two days, and I expect that they may continue. As more information becomes available, the City of Biddeford will be as open and transparent as possible. "
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