35-A M.R.S. §7507: Emergency interruption of service for law enforcement purposes

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Critical incident" means a situation in which there is probable cause to believe that a person is holding a hostage while committing a crime or who is barricaded and resisting apprehension through the use or threatened use of force.

B. "Commanding law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer who has jurisdiction and is in charge at a critical incident.

C. "Law enforcement officer" means a person who by virtue of public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order, to prosecute offenders and to make arrests for crimes.

2. Order. The commanding law enforcement officer at a critical incident may order a previously designated telephone utility security employee to arrange to cut, reroute or divert telephone lines for the purpose of preventing telephone communication by a suspected person with a person other than a law enforcement officer or a person authorized by a law enforcement officer.

3. Security employee designation. A telephone utility shall designate a security employee and an alternate security employee to provide required assistance to law enforcement officers involved in a critical incident.