Cumberland Police Department

A blue envelope handed to an officer during a traffic stop in Cumberland, Maine, signals that the driver may need extra patience or a different approach. The Cumberland Police Department is a participant in the Blue Envelope Program, which the Down Syndrome Advocacy Project of Maine backs and which helps people with conditions such as Down syndrome, autism, dementia or anxiety let officers know about their needs; the envelope shows whether the driver is verbal or nonverbal and offers tips for the encounter. Cumberland sits on the Southern Maine coast about 11 miles northeast of Portland, and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimate for the town was 8,876 residents in 2025. Its mission centers on protecting life, keeping the peace and enforcing state laws and town ordinances fairly. A community resource liaison shared with the Falmouth and Yarmouth departments joins officers on mental health calls and connects people with help. The department also points residents to the state's Contact Person Program, a confidential list of contacts that people with disabilities or their guardians can provide to police. When the lobby is closed, a phone there connects visitors straight to the Cumberland County Regional Communication Center.