LISBON
It’ll be all hands on deck for Lisbon police on Friday, when Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump comes to town.
Trump is holding a rally at the gymnasium at Open Door Christian Academy. Doors open at noon and the event starts at 3 p.m.
The event was sold-out by Thursday afternoon.
This will be the fifth visit by Trump to Maine this election cycle.
According to the 538 Election Forecast, Trump currently only has a 13 percent chance to win the state, but he could still hope to pull away one electoral vote if he wins Maine’s 2nd District.
Lisbon Police Chief Marc Hagan said police will handle external security Friday and assist the U.S. Secret Service with internal security. Maine State Police will escort the candidate.
Hagan said nearly everyone in his department will be working the event, save for a few officers working overnight. His department has also asked the Androscoggin County Sheriff ’s Department for assistance.
Trump rallies have been known to trigger protests and vandalism. Hagan said he isn’t aware of any specific protests planned in Lisbon for Friday, but said police have contingencies should anything arise.
“We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” he said.
There is limited parking available at Open Door Christian Academy, and parking along Route 196 will be prohibited.
Hagan said there will be parking further down in the village. The school’s administrative offices on Gartley Street and the town office will be closed, making for some available parking.
Hagan said he wasn’t nervous Thursday about having a presidential candidate coming to town. The real challenge was the short notice for planning, and limited staffing in the police department.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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