Portland Police Department

Portland Police Department (ME)

The Portland Police Department serves roughly 68,390 residents. If you had a problem with an officer, you have three distinct ways to file a complaint — and they are not equivalent. Here is how each one works in Portland, based on Sivil's audit of public records and agency websites.

1. Police Citizen Review Subcommittee — independent civilian oversight

The Police Citizen Review Subcommittee is a civilian agency that reviews complaints about Portland Police Department officers outside the department's own chain of command — your complaint is not investigated by colleagues of the officer involved. It accepts anonymous complaints, so you can file without giving your name. No notarization is required to file.

• How the Police Citizen Review Subcommittee complaint process works
• In person or by mail: 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 4101
• Police Citizen Review Subcommittee website

2. Portland Police Department Portland Police Department — the department's internal channel

Complaints filed with Portland Police Department are investigated inside the department itself. The office investigates anonymous complaints.

• Email: IA@portlandmaine.gov
• Department page on the complaint process

3. File through Sivil

Sivil delivers your complaint by email to the right recipient for this department — routed to the Police Citizen Review Subcommittee so it is reviewed independently. You keep a copy, and it takes about five minutes. Start your complaint here.

Good to know

• As of our last audit, the Portland Police Department homepage did not link to a complaint-filing page — one reason many residents struggle to find the correct channel.
• General department line: 207-874-8479

Compiled by Sivil from agency websites and public records; last verified 06/26/2024. Procedures change — confirm details with the agency before relying on them. Sharing a positive experience instead? Send a compliment.