PORTLAND (AP) – Law enforcement officials are expecting hundreds of bikers associated with the Outlaws motorcycle gang to roll into Maine this week in conjunction with Laconia Motorcycle Week in New Hampshire.

Police expect 500 to 2,000 bikers to gather at Outlaws’ clubhouses in the York County towns of Dayton and Alfred and to make excursions to New Hampshire and nearby Maine communities such as Portland and Old Orchard Beach. At the same time, an estimated 375,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to gather in New Hampshire for Bike Week.

Maine State Police, Cumberland and York county sheriff’s officials and Portland police all plan to add patrols this week. But State Police Chief Craig Poulin said there’s no reason to believe the Outlaws’ mere presence will lead to trouble.

“We’re anticipating that people are going to, for the most part, obey the laws – no more or less than motorists tend to,” Poulin said.

“We don’t have any particular reason to be concerned beyond that.”

Still, police in Portland, where rival motorcycle club members clashed violently this spring, plan to deploy extra officers and work with neighboring departments to respond to conflicts. Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies received a two-hour briefing Friday from a motorcycle gang specialist with the U.S. Marshal’s service.

On April 19, four men wearing Outlaws insignia on their clothing drove to a Portland tattoo parlor in daylight hours. Three went inside, a scuffle ensued and a 58-year old Denmark man, a member of the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club, was shot in the leg.

At the time, Portland police said they feared the shooting may have been the prelude to a turf war among motorcycle gangs. This week, Portland police have increased staffing and developed contingency plans in case more violence erupts.

“The concern is that the rivalry between the various factions will play itself out in violence this week,” said Deputy Chief Tim Burton.

Massachusetts-based members of the Outlaws who are hosting events told officials with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department that they don’t want problems.

“We were informed by them that they’re looking for no trouble. The less amount of trouble they have, the better they are,” said Capt. William Rhoads.

York County Chief Deputy Maurice Ouellette said he has no way of knowing how many bikers will show up in Maine. At the least, he expects a lot of bikers to be on the road, traveling between their clubhouses and New Hampshire, Portland and Old Orchard Beach.

“You always prepare for the worst-case scenario, then when hopefully nothing happens, everything is fine,” he said.

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