Privacy, Cookies & Accessibility Policy

Last updated: July 15, 2026

Purpose and Scope

The Buxton Police Department respects the privacy of visitors to its website. This policy explains the types of information that may be collected through this website, how that information may be used, how it may be disclosed or retained, and how to contact the Department with questions or accessibility concerns.

This policy applies to the official Buxton Police Department website and the forms and services provided through it. It does not control the privacy practices of external websites linked from this site.

Information You Choose to Provide

You may visit much of this website without directly providing your name or contact information.

The Department may collect information that you voluntarily provide through website forms, email, telephone calls, or other communications. Depending on the service used, this information may include:

Your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address
Your preferred method of contact
Complaint or commendation information
Incident dates, times, and locations
Information about officers, employees, witnesses, or other involved persons
Written statements and descriptions
Electronic signatures and certification information
Documents, photographs, or other files you choose to submit
Any other information included in a submission or communication

Please do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical records, passwords, or other highly sensitive information unless the Department specifically requests it through an approved and secure process.

Technical and Security Information

When you visit or submit information through this website, certain technical information may be collected automatically. This may include:

Internet Protocol address
Browser and device information
Date and time of access or submission
Pages visited
Referring website
Form security and rate-limit information
Records of successful, failed, blocked, or repeated submission attempts

This information may be used to operate and secure the website, prevent spam or abuse, investigate technical problems, maintain audit records, and protect the integrity of Department systems.

Complaints, Commendations, and Anonymous Submissions

Complaint and commendation submissions are sent to authorized Department personnel for review and official follow-up.

A person may be permitted to submit a complaint anonymously. Choosing the anonymous option means the Department may be unable to contact the submitter, request additional information, provide status updates, or notify the submitter of an outcome.

An anonymous submission does not necessarily mean that no technical information is recorded. Security information, including an Internet Protocol address and submission date and time, may still be recorded to prevent abuse, maintain system integrity, and support internal auditing.

The online complaint and commendation forms must not be used to report an active emergency. Call 911 for emergencies.

How Information May Be Used

Information collected through this website may be used to:

Respond to questions and requests
Review and process complaints or commendations
Contact a submitter when follow-up is appropriate
Conduct official Department or Town business
Create and maintain official records
Generate confirmation or tracking information
Deliver copies of submitted forms
Prevent spam, fraud, misuse, or repeated automated submissions
Maintain website and system security
Diagnose technical problems
Improve website content, accessibility, and public services
Comply with legal, regulatory, records-management, and court requirements

Submissions may be stored in Department email accounts, the website database, official Department systems, or other systems authorized for municipal use.

Disclosure and Public Records

The Buxton Police Department does not sell personal information collected through this website.

Information may be shared with authorized Buxton Police Department or Town of Buxton personnel when needed to perform official duties. Information may also be provided to service providers that support website hosting, email delivery, security, technical maintenance, document generation, or other approved functions.

Information may be disclosed when required or permitted by law, court order, legal process, records-retention requirements, an authorized investigation, or a legitimate public-safety need.

Information submitted to a government agency should not be assumed to be confidential merely because it was submitted through an online form or marked confidential. Depending on the nature of the record and applicable law, some information may be subject to public disclosure, while other information may be confidential, protected, or exempt from disclosure.

Each request for access to government records will be evaluated under applicable law.

Retention

Information collected through this website may be retained in accordance with applicable laws, municipal records-retention schedules, Department policies, operational needs, security requirements, pending investigations, litigation holds, or other legal obligations.

Different categories of information may be retained for different periods. Information may remain in backups or security logs for a limited period after it is removed from active systems.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

This website may use cookies or similar technologies necessary to operate the site, maintain security, remember preferences, support authenticated administrative sessions, prevent abuse, or understand general website usage.

A cookie is a small amount of information stored by a web browser. Cookies do not give the Department access to unrelated information stored on your device.

You may configure your browser to block or remove cookies. Some website or administrative functions may not operate properly when required cookies are disabled.

The Department may use website-hosting, security, analytics, mapping, video, document, or other third-party services. Those services may process technical information or use cookies according to their own privacy policies.

External Websites

This website may contain links to websites maintained by other government agencies, courts, community organizations, service providers, or private entities.

The Buxton Police Department does not control the content, security, accessibility, or privacy practices of external websites. Visitors should review the privacy and accessibility policies of any external service they use.

Information Security

The Department uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect information submitted through this website.

However, no website, email system, internet transmission, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information through ordinary website forms or email.

Accessibility

The Buxton Police Department is committed to providing people with disabilities meaningful access to its website, documents, forms, programs, services, and activities.

The Department is working to make its web content and mobile services conform to applicable accessibility requirements, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

If you experience difficulty accessing a page, document, form, or feature, contact the Department. Please identify the material or service you need and the format or accommodation that would be helpful. The Department will make reasonable efforts to provide the information or service through an accessible alternative.

Policy Updates

This policy may be updated as website functions, Department practices, service providers, or legal requirements change.

The “Last updated” date at the beginning of this policy identifies the most recent revision.

Contact Information

Questions regarding this policy, website privacy, accessibility, or an accessible alternative may be directed to:

Buxton Police Department
185 Portland Road
Buxton, Maine 04093

Telephone: (207) 929-6612
Fax: (207) 929-6609

For emergencies, call 911.