PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Police Department has launched a new Constable Program, adding a uniformed, non-law-enforcement presence in the city’s downtown, parks, and public spaces as Portland continues to confront problems at bus stops, open-air drug use, homelessness, and ongoing issues around Preble Street, Monument Square, and the post office.
The program, announced April 22, was previously referred to as the Urban Rangers program. It will operate under the department’s Community Policing Division and will be led by Marty Ney, a retired Portland Police officer who returned to the department in recent months.
Ney retired in 2022 after 22 years of service with the Portland Police Department. According to the department, he brings extensive experience in community engagement and public safety to the new role.
Three constables have already been hired, with additional staffing expected in the coming months.
The constables will serve as a uniformed, non-law-enforcement presence focused on building positive relationships, supporting safe public spaces, and protecting community resources. They will work with the Portland Police Department, the Parks & Recreation Department, and city businesses to help ensure public areas remain accessible, welcoming, and well-maintained for residents and visitors.
“Constables will play a vital role in strengthening community connections and supporting the shared use of our public spaces,” Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois said. “Under Marty Ney’s leadership, we are confident this program will have an immediate and positive impact.”
The department said the constables’ responsibilities will include engaging with community members, offering general assistance, providing information about city programs and available services, enforcing city ordinances and regulations, promoting safety and accessibility in public spaces, supporting conflict resolution and de-escalation, and developing educational outreach programs related to park use and stewardship.
The new program comes as Portland Police are also partnering with the Portland Public Library for “Coffee with a Cop” events at the library’s downtown branch at 5 Monument Square.
The meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday of May and June from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., offering a casual, agenda-free opportunity for residents to connect with local officers. The next event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026, followed by another on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
For more information, residents may contact Jennifer Rogers at [email protected].
The Constable Program marks Portland’s latest attempt to respond to public space concerns while maintaining a visible presence separate from traditional law enforcement.
City officials said the program reflects Portland’s continued commitment to enhancing public safety, strengthening community trust, and preserving the city’s parks and public spaces.
A crazed lunatic drug user/dealer will certainly obey these touchy, feely non law enforcement constables. What a joke Portland has become.
not only a joke, but dangerous. Definitely a city to stay away from, as are most cities controlled by the left