Portland board says South Portland police failed to notify district before student was briefly detained near Deering High; chief agrees to notify in future

The Portland Board of Public Education on Tuesday publicly addressed an incident last week in which South Portland police, executing a statewide warrant near Deering High School, briefly detained and handcuffed a Deering student during open‑campus lunch, and said it will press for better advance notification of police activity near schools.

Board Chair Lentz read a prepared statement expressing concern that Deering High School staff were not notified before the police operation and calling the event "unsettling and potentially traumatic" for the students involved. The statement said no Deering student "was at fault in this situation" and praised school staff who supported students after the incident.

The board and superintendent said Superintendent Scallon has spoken with South Portland Police Chief Ahern. The chief "has agreed to inform our district of planned police actions near a school whenever possible so we can proactively ensure student safety," the board announced. The statement said South Portland police are conducting an internal review of the incident and its protocols.

Board member Ali Ali criticized the South Portland Police Department in stark terms, saying the student was detained because of a perceived resemblance to a suspect and that the episode illustrated why many jurisdictions reconsider police presence in schools. "This is literally the reason why we don't [have police assigned to schools]," Ali said, and he called for an apology to the student and family.

Superintendent Scallon and board members said Deering staff and counselors provided immediate support and debriefing for students who witnessed the event. Assistant Superintendent Abdullah Ahmed, who responded to the scene, said students cooperated and school staff promptly redirected students back to campus.

Why it matters: board leaders said the episode underscores the role of timely communication between law enforcement and school officials when police activity occurs near campuses, and highlighted the disproportionate risks communities of color face in policing encounters. The board asked for reviews and for procedures that enable advance notification when feasible.

Board action: Chair Lentz said the board supported the prepared statement and thanked staff for rapid support to students. The board indicated it will continue to press for improved communication protocols and said it expects the South Portland Police Department's internal review and any follow‑up to be shared with district leadership.

Officials did not identify the detained student and said the student was released; the board said the detention was brief and that students handled the situation with composure. The district urged the public and the board to await South Portland police's internal review for additional factual findings.

The board said it values its working relationship with the Portland Police Department, which typically provides notice of police actions near schools, and said it will press the South Portland department for similar notifications in the future.