About Us

All Maine communities are affected by drug use and abuse.  The availability of illegal drugs, diverted prescription medications, related crime, medical and legal costs and the lives they impact are evidence of this.  Without an effective enforcement program to disrupt the drug market, the State is unable to undermine the ability of drug suppliers to meet, expand, and profit from drug demand.  An ineffective program impacts the State’s ability to support prevention efforts by making initiation to drug use more difficult and fails to contribute to treatment efforts by eroding the ability of users to sustain their habits.  The MDEA through its regional multi-jurisdictional task forces is the lead state agency in confronting drug trafficking crime. 

The effective and efficient use of limited resources and personnel are essential.  Every MDEA Regional Task Force works closely with the Maine State Police, the Sheriff’s Offices, and area police departments.  Geography, population and caseload require that good working relationships, partnerships, communication, collaboration and information exchanges with all drug investigative entities working together to maximize the utilization of limited resources and personnel. 

The MDEA, as a cornerstone of the State’s enforcement strategy to address drug abuse and trafficking, provides the administrative platform for the effective and efficient use of limited resources.  It is through the MDEA that the skills, expertise, and experience of officers assigned to its task force groups are brought together as a statewide drug task force.

Mission of Maine Drug Enforcement Agency

Mission: The Department of Public Safety’s Drug Enforcement Agency’s mission is to reduce the distribution, availability and use of illicit drugs through a collaborative statewide drug enforcement effort.  The MDEA serves the public with integrity and dedication through the effective and efficient management of resources.  

Philosophy: We seek to have a drug-free Maine thereby improving the quality of life in our State through the ethical leadership and development of our employees, while upholding and respecting the constitutional rights of all people. 

Goals: The MDEA’s goals are to: reduce the availability of illicit drugs; strengthen state drug law enforcement structure; protect the state’s borders by stemming the flow of drugs into and through Maine; strengthen intelligence and information sharing; enhance collaboration and coordination with all law enforcement agencies; and establish effective partnerships with the legislature and other state agencies.

Purpose: The program’s purpose is to provide a central administrative structure for the establishment, coordination, and oversight of specialized narcotics and narcotic-related investigative units within the State of Maine through a multi-jurisdictional drug task force approach.  The task force concept brings together the resources of adjoining and overlapping enforcement activities, particularly in situations in which sparse resources are spread over great distances.  This approach has proven to be one of the most effective tools in proactively addressing the proliferation of illegal drug activity through the pooling of skills, enhanced intelligence sharing, increased personnel resources, more equipment available, concentration of effort on a clear goal, and reduced jurisdictional boundary problems. In addition to the consolidation of investigatory resources, the MDEA also integrates prosecuting personnel with the day-to-day case work investigators.

Organization: Bureau structure providing for the multi-jurisdictional administrative function is comprised of three State employees – Director and two (2) secretary positions. 
45 law enforcement agencies participate in this collaborative drug enforcement effort.  Officers assigned to the MDEA have statewide authority.  The statewide effort is accomplish through eight (8) regional task force groups whose area of responsibility varies from one county to as many as four counties.  They are supported by an agent assigned to a central evidence / property management function, and the National Guard Counterdrug Program that provides 6 personnel for investigative case support to the MDEA.

The MDEA has two field divisions that are responsible for the investigation of drug distribution activity.  As of 31 December, the core of this effort is staffed by 40 sworn personnel comprised of 2 commanders, 8 task force supervisors and 33 task force investigators.  Both divisions are supported by a central evidence facility to which one agent is assigned

Division I is lead by a Commander (Maine State Police lieutenant equivalent) and 4 task force investigative supervisors (MSP sergeant equivalent) managing 19 task force investigators (MSP detective equivalent) responsible for operations south of Kennebec County to the New Hampshire border and coast with four regional task forces.  In addition, 8 departments assign officers part-time on a case-by-case basis to work jointly on drug enforcement operations of mutual interest.

Division II is lead by a Commander and 4 task force investigative supervisors managing 14 task force investigators responsible for operations north of Kennebec County the coast and Canadian border with four regional task forces.  In addition, 4 departments assign officers part-time on a case-by-case basis to work jointly on drug enforcement operations of mutual interest.

Program: The MDEA’s mission is to disrupt the drug market, thereby undermining the ability of drug suppliers to meet, expand, and profit from drug demand while supporting prevention efforts and contributing to treatment efforts.  Its goals are to: reduce availability of drugs; protect the State’s borders by stemming the flow of drugs into and through Maine; strengthen the State’s drug law enforcement infrastructure; strengthen intelligence and information sharing; enhance collaboration and coordination with all law enforcement agencies; and establish effective partnerships within state government.

History

The BUREAU OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1987 and MAINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 1992 set forth the development of a statewide drug enforcement program and strategy based on principles of coordinated, collaborative effort at all levels of law enforcement that established the MDEA. 

The MDEA endeavors to facilitate a positive working relationship amongst agencies. This cooperative effort, designed to address the manufacture, sale and possession of controlled substances has clearly depicted that when we all work together we can and will attain the desired results. The MDEA will continue to provide leadership in statewide drug law enforcement, support local law enforcement agencies, and assist and cooperate with other agencies to reduce the availability and use of illegal drugs in Maine. 

The MDEA, as a cornerstone of the State’s enforcement strategy to address drug abuse and trafficking, provides the administrative platform for the effective and efficient use of limited resources. It is through the MDEA that the skills, expertise, and experience of officers assigned to its task force groups are brought together as a statewide drug task force. 

About the DirectorMcKinney

Roy E. McKinney Director – Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
Department of Public Safety
166 State House Station
45 Commerce Dr., Suite 1
Augusta, ME 04333-0166
(207) 626-3850

In September 1997, Governor Angus S. King, Jr. appointed Roy E. McKinney as Director of the Department of Public Safety’s Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA).

The MDEA is the state’s lead agency for coordinated drug enforcement operations with officers assigned from state and local departments.  In addition to the investigation of drug trafficking by its eight district task force offices, the MDEA conducts training seminars for regional law enforcement training districts, provides instructors for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Basic Police School and also presents community seminars aimed at educating parents, education professionals, members of the health care profession and the general public about drug trends and their dangers.

Mr. McKinney, a law enforcement officer for 37 years, served twenty years with the Bangor, Maine Police Department with his last assignment as the Criminal Investigation Division Commander. 

Mr. McKinney holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Maine, a graduate of the FBI National Academy (207th Session), attended numerous training sessions at the FBI Academy, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and Southern Police Institute and is an instructor at the University of Maine’s Criminal Justice Program.

Mr. McKinney is a member of the: