The Attorney General is authorized to create a Criminal Division within the Department of the Attorney General in order to coordinate all criminal investigation and prosecution for the purpose of improving law enforcement within the State of Maine. [PL 1967, c. 58, §1 (NEW).] The Attorney General shall have full responsibility for the direction and control of all investigation and prosecution of homicides and such other major crimes as the Attorney General may deem necessary for the peace and good order of the State of Maine. [PL 1967, c. 58, §1 (NEW).] The Attorney General shall conduct and control all drug-related investigations of public officials or members of the law enforcement community. [PL 1991, c. 837, Pt. B, §3 (NEW).] The Attorney General has exclusive responsibility for the direction of any criminal investigation of an official holding a partisan public office when the alleged crime is a violation of Title 17-A, chapter 25 or when, in the Attorney General's opinion, the alleged crime may affect the official's performance in office. As used in this section, the term "partisan public office" means an office in which, prior to an election to fill the office, the candidate must declare membership in a political party, or an office filled by the appointment of the Governor, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Any law enforcement agency investigating an alleged crime that may result in formal charges against an official holding partisan public office shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Attorney General of the investigation. The Attorney General may, after review, designate any law enforcement agency to complete the investigation and direct its completion. [PL 1991, c. 841, §3 (NEW).] The Attorney General has exclusive responsibility for the direction and control of any criminal investigation of a law enforcement officer who, while acting in the performance of that law enforcement officer's duties, uses deadly force, as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 8. Any law enforcement agency whose officer uses deadly force shall notify, as soon as practicable, the Attorney General of the event. [PL 1995, c. 200, §1 (NEW).]
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