AUGUSTA, Maine — The independent commission investigating the Lewiston mass shooting released its report Tuesday, which said the tragedy could have been prevented had the people and organizations who came across the gunman, Robert Card, taken the proper steps.
Maine's chapter of the National Shattering Silence Coalition held a news conference at the state capitol Wednesday morning advocating for a program it believes could have helped avoid the tragedy last October.
Coalition members said the state needs to do a better job promoting what's called the Progressive Treatment Program (PTP).
PTP is a court-ordered treatment program aimed to help people with complex mental health needs connect with a treatment plan and psychiatric care.
Members of the coalition said PTP was created to help people who don't recognize their own mental illness, and they believe it could have helped Card.
"If we're really serious about preventing tragedy, then we have to tackle sensitive issues," Laura Snyder, a coalition member, said.
Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lindsay Hammes said the department implements the program "in accordance with the law."
Hammes sent NEWS CENTER Maine the following statement:
"The Department has implemented the Progressive Treatment Program in accordance with the law, but the Department has no statutory authority to oversee the Progressive Treatment Program (PTP) process, to provide training to law enforcement or to report PTP data to NIH. The Department also does not have access to complete statewide PTP data as some applications for these confidential District Court proceedings may be brought by non-state hospitals or other actors. The Department remains deeply committed to working with law enforcement and the broader medical and behavioral health community, consistent with the law, to protect the safety and wellbeing of Maine people and to support individuals with complex mental health needs."