Jonathan Bush, a Republican candidate for Maine governor, has removed a campaign ad featuring a Portland police training from social media after the city said officials heard complaints that the video falsely indicated a police department endorsement.

The one-minute ad on TikTok featured footage of a night vision training exercise and narration by Bush, who talks about his experience observing the training. Splashed across the bottom of the screen is Bush’s campaign logo.

Bush was invited to attend the training by Lt. Nicholas Goodman, who had an “existing relationship” with Bush, said Brad Nadeau, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Department. Goodman invited Bush because the candidate had expressed an interest in attending a police training, he said.

The invitation was not issued through any formal departmental process, but it is not uncommon for civilians to be present at select training exercises when authorized and supervised, Nadeau said. The department was not made aware that Bush would be filming, the spokesperson said.

After Bush posted a video of the training on social media, the department heard concerns from people who felt it was a political endorsement, Nadeau said. The department did not specify who complained.

The department contacted Bush and asked him to remove the video, which he did.

“The Portland Police Department does not support, endorse, or promote any political candidates or campaigns,” Nadeau said in an email. “Participation in department training or activities should never be interpreted as political support, and no statements or actions by department members or Mr. Bush indicated any such endorsement.”

In a written statement, Bush defended the video and attacked the Portland City Council.

“If you’re like most Mainers, the idea of a video celebrating the bravery of our police would seem completely appropriate,” he said. “But if you’re like some of the anti-police Democratic Socialists on the Portland City Council, you might be threatened by such a clear endorsement of our brave law enforcement personnel. It’s frankly reprehensible how difficult some of these council people have made it for our police to simply do their jobs, and when I’m governor, all of that will end.”

Bush’s campaign did not immediately respond to additional questions about how long the video was live and whether it appeared on other social media sites.

The police department is reviewing the circumstances around the invitation “to ensure that all future interactions with members of the public, especially those seeking or holding elected office, fully align with department and city policy and uphold our commitment to political neutrality,” Nadeau said.