Walk down Blake Street on a Tuesday afternoon, and you'll see two different versions of Lewiston, Maine. In one, kids are playing near Kennedy Park while neighbors chat on porches. In the other, there’s a palpable tension—a feeling that the "old Lewiston" is slipping away under the weight of open drug use and a string of shootings that have left people on edge.
Honestly, the city is at a breaking point.
Lewiston residents split on efforts to crack down on crime isn't just a headline; it’s the reality of a community trying to figure out how to be safe without losing its soul. It's been a rough couple of years. First, the 2023 mass shooting left a scar that hasn't even begun to fade. Now, in early 2026, the debate has shifted from recovery to "suppression."
The Strategy: More Boots, More Badges?
Last summer, the city launched what they called a "crime suppression effort." It sounds intense because it was. We’re talking local police teaming up with state troopers, the DEA, and even Homeland Security.
They made eight arrests in one week back in July, including a guy wanted for manslaughter. For some people living near Bartlett Street, seeing that many cruisers was a relief. They’re tired of the "visible decline"—the trash, the needles, the feeling that they can’t walk their dogs after sunset.
But for others? It feels like an occupation.
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"I've had a clean history, but yet every time I get pulled over, I just feel like I'm on attack mode," says Asha Mohamed, a local mother. She spoke out during a meeting for the new police chief, Carly Conley, expressing a sentiment shared by many in the Somali-American community. They’re caught between a rock and a hard place: they want the crime to stop, but they’re terrified of the people sent to stop it.
The New Fear: Federal "Rumors" and ICE
Fast forward to right now—January 2026. Things just got a lot more complicated.
Rumors are flying that federal immigration enforcement is about to flood Lewiston and Portland. Mayor Carl Sheline and Governor Janet Mills have already put out statements basically telling people to "know their rights."
This is where the split in the community gets really wide.
- The Law and Order Group: They argue that crime and "nonprofit mismanagement" (a big talking point lately) are ruining the city's economy. They want the feds in. They want the "suppression" to stay permanent.
- The Community Advocates: They see this as a distraction. They argue that if you want to stop crime, you don't do it with more handcuffs—you do it with youth centers and better lighting.
- The Immigrant Community: For them, a "crime crackdown" often looks like a hunt for paperwork.
It’s messy.
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Take Bert Brown, who has lived here for 26 years. He told reporters that while the city isn't as safe as it used to be, more police isn't the fix. He thinks it just "deters people from doing things" and messes with folks trying to have a good time. On the flip side, you have business owners like Melinda Small, who owns Legends Bar & Grill. She’s had to drop $10,000 on security systems just to keep the lights on. To her, "crackdown" isn't a scary word—it's a necessity.
Why Data Doesn't Always Tell the Story
If you look at the stats, Maine is technically one of the safest states in the country. But stats don't matter when you hear gunshots three blocks away.
In 2025, Lewiston actually reported an increase in "index crimes" while other Maine cities saw a drop. That’s a huge part of why the city council pushed through a 10:00 p.m. curfew for minors. They’re trying to stop the "small group of teens" that former Chief David St. Pierre said were responsible for most of the recent violence.
But does a curfew work? Or does it just give police a reason to stop kids who aren't doing anything wrong?
The "Village" vs. The "Enforcer"
Maid Tahar, another resident, put it pretty simply: "It takes a village to raise a child." He’s been pushing for more resources and talking to the kids directly.
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There's a feeling that the city is ignoring the "why" behind the crime. Why is drug use so open? Why are gangs becoming more visible on Blake Street?
The city just appointed Carly Conley as the new Police Chief. She’s stepping into a hornets' nest. At a recent Q&A, the questions weren't even about local patrols anymore—they were about whether the Lewiston PD would help ICE. She said no, they don't enforce federal law. But that hasn't stopped the anxiety.
What You Can Actually Do
If you live in Lewiston or a city facing similar growing pains, waiting for the "perfect" policy isn't going to help. Most residents who feel safer are the ones getting involved in ways that don't involve a badge.
Next Steps for Residents:
- Attend the Listening Sessions: Mayor Sheline has been hosting these at places like Geiger Elementary. If you don't show up, the only voices the city hears are the loudest ones on social media.
- Know Your Rights: Whether it’s local police or federal agents, knowing what they can and can’t do is vital. The city has been handing out pamphlets for a reason.
- Support Local Youth Programs: Places like IFKA Community Services are doing the "village" work. They need volunteers and funding more than ever.
- Report, Don't Just Post: There’s a trend of posting crime videos to Facebook but never calling the non-emergency line. Documentation helps the city allocate resources to the right blocks.
The "split" in Lewiston isn't going away anytime soon. It’s a tug-of-war between a desire for old-school safety and a need for modern, equitable justice. Honestly, both sides have a point, and that’s why it’s so hard to fix.
For now, the city remains on edge, watching the street corners and waiting to see which version of Lewiston wins out.