Mayor Miro Weinberger to Suspend Police Chief Search  

Search Committee Recommends Applicant Pool Insufficient for Permanent Appointment, Mayor Suspends Search Pending Further City Council Action 

Burlington, VT – Following a month's long effort to identify and recruit Burlington’s next permanent Police Chief, Mayor Miro Weinberger has notified the City Council that he has accepted the Police Search Committee’s recommendation that the current pool is insufficient for the appointment of a permanent Chief, and that he is suspending the search pending future Council action needed to make this effort successful. Deputy Chief Jon Murad has agreed to stay on as Acting Chief.  

"Our Search Committee confronted a competitive recruitment environment, where many cities are seeking to transform policing in their communities by hiring new, progressive leadership,” said Mayor Weinberger. “That, coupled with the many City Council actions over the last year that have weakened the Department and undermined the Chief’s role, has made a successful search impossible at this time. Burlingtonians want us to choose a permanent chief from a large and competitive pool of leaders eager to serve our City, and it is clear we cannot deliver without new support from Councilors. In the meantime, Acting Chief Murad and I will continue working to rebuild and re-envision a world-class police department in Burlington.” 

For many years the Burlington Police Department (BPD) enjoyed the position of one of Vermont’s most effective and progressive law enforcement agencies, in large part thanks to its leadership advancing twenty-first-century police reform and because of specialized roles within the Department offering career advancement for sworn officers such as the Community Affairs Officer, Airport Division, Street Crimes Unit, and Domestic Violence Prevention Officer. Since June 2020 the BPD has lost more than 30% of its officers. 

Mayor Weinberger informed the City Council that he will not restart the Police Chief search until they take action to support a successful search, including:  

• Substantially increasing the Police Chief’s salary to a range competitive with communities and police departments of similar scale; 

• Supporting the engagement of an executive search firm with experience recruiting progressive law enforcement leadership; and 

• Providing the resources and support a new Police Chief will need to succeed.  Mayor Weinberger committed to detailing these additional needs prior to the City Council’s Nov. 15 meeting. 

Timeline of Police Chief Search Process 

• On May 14, Mayor Weinberger announced he would resume the Police Chief Search with a goal of concluding in November and outlined a robust public process that began with a community survey. 

• On August 18, Mayor Weinberger announced the position posting, which included a Public Engagement Report and a new Ideal Candidate Profile.  

• Following the priority deadline for applications on September 23, the Mayor’s Office and Human Resources Director reviewed the 18 applications received, and recommended to the Search Committee that four candidates be screened for interviews. 

• In late September, the Mayor’s Office sought input from two police executive search firms who each made clear recommendations that a larger candidate pool would require a substantial increase to the Police Chief’s Salary. The Search Committee expressed that the candidate pool was too small, and supported increasing the Police Chief salary in order to attract more competitive candidates.  

• The Search Committee’s recommendation was shared with the City Council, however, Progressive City Councilors were not supportive of increasing the salary in line with those recommendations. Councilors requested that the Administration instead re-advertise the position at the current salary. 

• On October 12, Human Resources re-advertised the position, and proceeded with screening applicants. 

• Two candidates met the City’s minimum job requirements and advanced beyond the preliminary screening.  

• This week, Police Chief Search Committee determined that the current applicant pool for the position is insufficient to support the appointment of a permanent Chief of Police and recommended that we not continue the process with this current pool. 

Attachments: 

• Mayor Weinberger’s letter to the City Council 

• Police Executive Research Forum Salary Survey 

• Police Chief Search Public Engagement Report 

• Police Chief Search job opportunity and Ideal Candidate Profile 

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Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Meagan Tuttle as City’s Next Planning Director 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced Meagan Tuttle as the City’s next Planning Director. Meagan has served as Burlington’s Principal Planner for more than six years and brings more than a decade of planning experience to the role. Since June, she has also served as the City’s COVID-19 Response Leader, coordinating the City’s internal and external efforts to respond to the pandemic. 

“After six years of working closely with Meagan on some of the Administration’s highest priorities and most high-profile initiatives, I could not be more pleased to appoint her as Planning Director,” said Mayor Weinberger. “Meagan is a dedicated City employee and a collaborative colleague, and I know Burlingtonians will benefit from her leadership.” 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the City in this new capacity,” said Meagan Tuttle. “I look forward to bringing together the multi-disciplinary perspective of long-range planning with cross-departmental data and analytics programs to help implement key city priorities.” 

Meagan’s extensive accomplishments include:  

• Organizing the Mayor’s 2019 Housing Summit and leading the development and implementation of resulting policy reforms. 

• Leading the first comprehensive update to the City’s master plan in +20 years. 

• Co-managing the process to develop downtown street design standards and plans to redevelop City Hall Park and St. Paul Street. 

• Recognition by the Vermont Planner’s Association as Professional Planner of the Year (2021) and the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association as Professional Planner of the Year (2021). 

• Serving as President of the Vermont Planners Association and President-elect of the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association. 

Meagan has been a Burlington resident for six years and lives in the New North End with her partner.  

Next Steps 

Mayor Weinberger plans to bring forward Meagan’s appointment for Council confirmation at the Nov. 8 City Council meeting. If confirmed, Meagan will start on Nov. 9 and will be the first woman to serve the City of Burlington as  Planning Director.  

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Mayor Weinberger, Parks Director Wight, and Hoehl Family Members  Gathered to Celebrate the New Park Name 

Burlington, VT - Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) has been referring the newest public park space simply as “the 311 North Ave park property.” This afternoon people gathered to celebrate the park’s new official name. 

Unlike today’s park space, the history of the land hasn’t always been a positive story. Beginning with the original colonization of Abenaki land, this land has also housed a misused orphanage where many children experienced abuse, followed by the unfortunate closure of Burlington College, a beloved local arts college. Now in public hands, the park is embracing a management plan that centers on healing and reciprocation. It will be, in perpetuity, a space for learning, sharing, and reflection. 

“Expanding and revitalizing Burlington’s public spaces and access to recreation has been a priority of my Administration for almost a decade, and Kieslich Park represents a major success in this effort,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I am thankful to the Hoehl Family for their generosity that made this day possible.” 

About the Park Acquisition 

The vision for the park began as early as the 2000’s with then Mayor Peter Clavelle, but it wasn’t until 2015, under the administration of Mayor Miro Weinberger, that the City secured 12 acres of waterfront land, preserving it for conservation and public enjoyment. The process involved creating a development agreement to ensure the conservation of the property and maintenance of the well-established public connection to the Waterfront and Greenway. This arrangement preserved 43% of the original property for open space, protecting it from future development.  

The $2 million purchase price of the land, after Burlington College closed, was made possible with the use of several funding sources including: the Burlington Conservation Legacy Fund, Vermont Housing and Conservation Fund, the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program, and private donations from John Hoehl and family, facilitated with significant support from the Vermont Land Trust, Champlain Housing Trust, and the Parks Foundation of Burlington. 

About the Park’s Namesake 

Today people gathered to unveil the BPRW branded park sign boasting the new park name: Kieslich Park. The Hoehl Family, who donated significant funding for the park acquisition, Red Stone Cottage improvements, and the planned improvements to the pathway, desired to honor the maternal side of their family legacy. The new park name honors their mother, Cynthia Kieslich Hoehl. 

In naming ‘Kieslich Park,’ Burlington also acknowledges the valuable contributions that the Kieslich family has made to the City since arriving over 135 years ago. The Kieslichs became a prominent family of merchants, craftsmen, and contractors in Burlington’s thriving German community in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Kieslich family became part of the fabric of the community and served in many capacities including City Alderman, School Board, and Leaders in Higher-Education. A Kieslich also served as one of the first female officers of the Burlington Police Department, and the Kieslichs also gave back financially with philanthropic gifts. One such philanthropist, Cynthia Kieslich Hoehl, had quietly served the Burlington community throughout her lifetime with organizations such as COTS, The Boys & Girls Club, Lund Family Center, The Stearn Center for Language and Learning, and so many more. As a child, Cynthia Kieslich spent some time at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage.   

John Hoehl, one of the major donors for the park, noted that he and his mother, Cynthia Kieslich Hoehl, had "talked about this land in the latter years of her life. She had wanted to purchase it and make something good happen here. It was a very valuable piece of real estate, and there was much competition. I think that she would be very pleased that, in a small way, she played her part to enable the space to be preserved for the people.” 

Just as the Kieslich family served their community for many generations, and the Hoehls continue that tradition, the new Park will serve the Burlington community and will be a place of peace and refuge for the community for many years to come.  

About the Park Now and Into the Future 

Today, the park is a hub of activity. Not only has the neighborhood development embraced the open space to play and picnic, but it also is home to our Conservation Team, community garden site, and more. 

BPRW Director Cindi Wight shared, “we are in great hands with this property, with Dan Cahill, our Land Steward, and his team onsite. It is a treasured Burlington property and we have many to thank for the hard work of acquiring the land for public access.” 

The developing management plan includes a balance of uses, but it is rooted in the concept of reciprocity and the central themes of connection and healing for the variety of essential functions for humans, wildlife, and plants. The goals of the site are to manage the natural landscapes through restorative and regenerative practices, maintain east/west access to the waterfront and the adjoining properties for humans and wildlife, and provide passive recreation and opportunities for community education. 

The property is home to the Lakeview Community Garden, one of 14 Burlington Area Community Garden sites that serve over 1,400 people a year. The Conservation Team also uses the park space as a tree nursery to propagate and grow new trees for our parks. By partnering with UVM and the American Chestnut Foundation, they have been growing hybrid chestnut trees to re-establish the once important tree species back into our City’s canopy. They also make use of the garage bays for much-needed storage of tools and equipment that support many hours of volunteer projects in all the conservation areas. 

The Red Stone Cottage, is currently used as office space for the Conservation Team. The original bungalow was designed by architect Frank Lyman Austin for Dr. Walker D Berry and was constructed of local redstone and surrounded by porches. Future renovation plans, designed by architect Jay White, will convert some of the space for public use, including meeting rooms, public computer access, restrooms, and nature-focused education programs. The design will also restore some of the porches and create a glass-walled walkway linking the old and new parts of the building. 

Kieslich Park is also hosting the inaugural edition of a Poetry Walk, inspired by the connection of healing, nature, and revolution. The poems feature the works of Indigenous and Black Poets to share poetry based on this theme. Visitors can read the poems on custom laser-carved panels and scan the QR code to hear the poems read aloud by the authors. Additionally, future designs are being developed for improving the trail linking the Greenway and North Avenue and making a connection with the planned accessible trail from Cambrian Rise.  

Kieslich Park is and will continue to serve as a vibrant community space for residents and visitors to find connection and healing within our City's amazing natural environment. 

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Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Public Survey to Guide ARPA Investment 

Survey Available in Nine Languages and Open for four weeks; Funds to be used for Public Health, Racial and Economic Equity, Broadband, or Water Resources 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the launch of a new public survey seeking community feedback on several projects eligible to be funded using ARPA money. These projects have the opportunity to positively impact Burlington by meeting a number of high-priority goals including public health, racial and economic equity, broadband, and water resources.  

“After a prolonged period of historic disruption and uncertainty, we have the opportunity to emerge a stronger, more sustainable, and more just community by making permanent innovations that emerged during the pandemic and investing these one-time federal dollars wisely,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “In order to get this right we need to hear from the Burlington community to understand their needs and priorities and learn from their perspectives.” 

On March 11, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law, awarding millions of dollars directly to cities. As a result, the City of Burlington has over $15 million to invest in future initiatives. According to the federal guidelines, these funds must be used for projects that respond to the health crisis, support broadband access, improve water systems, support tourism, or address negative economic impacts for individuals, households, or businesses – specifically, addressing disparities in health, education, and housing.  

Thus far, the City has obligated over $10 million of the $27 million ARPA funds  including approximately $7.3 million through the budget process to close gaps from lost revenues due to COVID-19. Since the budget process, supporting the City’s ongoing public health response and initiating an equitable economic recovery have been clear priorities of the Administration in stewarding these significant one-time federal funds. Other ARPA disbursements proposed by the Administration and approved by the City Council include $880,000 for economic recovery, pandemic response, and constituent services, $850,000 for police officer retention and recruitment, and $1.79 million for public health, property tax relief, and water resources.  

Mayor Weinberger has instructed the Economic Recovery Director, Kara Alnaswari, and her team to create a public engagement plan around the investment of the City’s remaining $15 million in ARPA funds. The Economic Recovery Team has studied the US Treasury Interim Final Rule and subsequent Treasury FAQs, consulted with local legal experts to clarify interpretations, researched how other municipalities plan to use funds, and carefully monitored state and federal programs to avoid redundancies. The Director then convened an internal ARPA Task Force, including members of REIB, CEDO, and the City’s COVID Response Leader to assist in reviewing potential projects and creating a survey to encourage public participation. The Survey, available online, will also be distributed by volunteers for four weeks to solicit responses from a broad section of the Burlington community.  

“The Economic Recovery Team has developed a strong outreach plan and we are dedicated to gathering input from as many Burlington residents as we can,” said Economic Recovery Director Kara Alnasrawi. 

The Survey will be available online until November 9: ARPA Action Plan — Love Burlington. Next steps for the Economic Recovery team will be hosting a town hall to provide the community with the chance to give additional input. 

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Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Raise in Authorized Officer Cap 

Burlington, VT – Late Monday evening the Burlington City Council voted by a margin of 8-4 to raise the authorized cap of officers at the Burlington Police Department to 79 officers. With an additional 8 officers at the Airport currently, this action effectively raises the cap from 74 to 87 officers. Mayor Weinberger made the following statement: 

“The City Council acted correctly this evening in restoring the ranks of our police department to a functional and operational number of 87 officers, one shy of CNA’s maximum recommendation and squarely in the range I have been recommending through over a year of debate. It will take a long time to repair the grave decline of our public safety capacity that was initiated last June, but tonight’s action does send a positive message to our officers and the Burlington community that public safety and maintaining a viable department remain a shared goal of the Administration and the Council. 

I commend the councilors who long stood behind a resourced and professional department for their fortitude, and I thank councilors Hightower and Stromberg for recognizing through their votes that our sworn officers are foundational to realizing our shared goals of a transformed, progressive public safety infrastructure in Burlington.” 

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Mayor Weinberger Announces Next Steps Regarding Sears Lane Encampment 

Burlington, VT – Today, Mayor Weinberger announced next steps toward ending the unsafe living conditions at the Sears Lane encampment, and expanding short- and mid-term housing services in Burlington during this period of acute housing shortage.  

Dangerous incidents at the site have included police and federal law enforcement partners executing a warrant following a month-long narcotics investigation and a camper pointing an assault-style airsoft gun (a replica pellet gun) at Burlington Fire personnel who were responding to a medical call.  The Fire Department has also determined that some of the structures that have been erected illegally on the site pose a significant fire risk to occupants and other campers on the site. Following those incidents, Mayor Weinberger directed Burlington Police to issue a notice to leave and remove possessions by October 19 in accordance with the City of Burlington’s policy regarding sheltering on public lands. The City’s policy regarding sheltering on public lands was created in later 2019, following a long period of engagement with local advocates and the ACLU.  

“I believe that homelessness in Burlington should be brief, and rare and my Administration has worked hard for many years to expand resources and services for the individuals living in chronic homelessness. For the past year these efforts have included an attempt to establish first a tiny home community and then a managed campsite at Sears Lane,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Unfortunately these efforts have not been supported by key partners and now, the encampment has become an immediate concern where significant harm has occurred and is likely to occur if the site continues. To protect the health and safety of the campers, neighbors, and our first responders we must close this encampment. However, we will not stop fighting to bring needed support and resources to members of our community who are housing insecure.” 

After work through the weekend and further engagement with campers at Sears Lane, the Vermont Department of Children and Families, and various local social service providers the City is announcing a number of updates: 

• Since Thursday, many campers at the site have been working with the City in good faith to leave the encampment and some have requested an extension for leaving the site beyond October 19. 

• The City will store the belongings of campers for up to 30 days by bringing storage containers to the site. These containers will be on-site no later than October 25.  

• In response to these requests and the updated support plan, the Mayor has extended the deadline for campers to comply with this notice until October 26. 

• At the City’s request, the Vermont Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) has pledged emergency funding to provide direct assistance to Sears Lane residents in their transition to other housing. DCF is committed to working with the City, local nonprofits, and the Chittenden Homeless Alliance to ensure that people who have been living at Sears lane are supported in accessing a range of alternative housing options to meet their needs.   

• DCF has confirmed that the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) will provide direct street outreach services to the Sears Lane encampment. CVOEO is offering campers hotel assistance, transportation, and other housing assistance. CVOEO and the City's recently expanded Community Service Liaison team will work with Sears Lane clients to ensure a safe transition. 

• On Thursday, October 21, City staff and community partners will meet with campers to discuss resource connection, explain the City’s storage policy, and identify trash and abandoned items for removal. 

• On Friday, October 22, the Department of Public Works and Department of Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront will be on-site to assist with the disposal and removal of items identified as abandoned or trash only. 

Background 

The City and key partners have dramatically expanded homeless services on Mayor Weinberger’s watch, with key initiatives including: 

• Opening the City’s first low-barrier winter warming shelter in 2014, and the continuation of this program until 2020 when it was expanded to be a year-round facility. 

• The launch of the region’s first “coordinated entry system” to better support individuals experiencing homelessness.  

• The conversion of North Beach into a low-barrier, COVID-safe facility first with RVs and then with tents through the spring and summer of 2020. 

While last week’s issues created an immediate concern for the City and for the safety and health of individuals in the area, the site has had a number of growing concerns that the City has sought to resolve through expanded management at the site. Prior to the most recent incidents of criminal activity, the City team had also been working to protect public health and safety and to find a way for the City-owned land and Sears Lane to help address community housing needs. These efforts included: 

• In October 2020, the City partnered with ANEW Place to secure grant funding from the Vermont Housing Conservation Board to build tiny homes at Sears Lane. The VHCB voted 5-3 against funding the City’s plan. 

• In September 2021, after months of consultations with non-profit service providers, the City released a request for proposals seeking a non-profit partner to actively manage the site as a low-barrier campground. No local service providers responded to that request. 

At the Mayor’s direction, the City of Burlington’s Community Economic Development (CEDO) is continuing to explore ways in which City properties can play a role in addressing the current, acute housing crisis. 

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Over 95% of Burlington City Employees Fully Vaccinated Following Implementation of New Policy  

Vaccination Rate Among City Employees Passes 95%, up from 90% in August 

Burlington, VT – On August 20th Mayor Miro Weinberger announced a new vaccination policy requiring all City employees to either be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing, effective October 11th. This week, the City reports that more than 95% of employees have submitted proof of vaccination, with 56 employees beginning weekly testing. New hires are required to show proof of vaccination with no option to meet the policy requirements through testing.  

“Vaccines are safe and highly effective against severe outcomes from COVID-19. I urge all Burlingtonians who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I welcomed the news from the Biden Administration that it has directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to require vaccination or weekly testing for employers with 100 or more employees. This is an important step forward in expanding vaccination among the U.S. workforce. I hope that employers across the City will follow our lead and require vaccinations regardless of the size of their business. It is incumbent on all of us to do what we can with the tools we have to bring Burlington’s vaccination rate as high as possible.”  

Under the City’s new vaccination policy, employees are considered fully vaccinated 14-days after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 14-days after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Boosters are recommended for those eligible but not required at this time. 

Some Vermonters are now eligible for booster vaccinations or third doses. According to the Vermont Department of Health: 

• The CDC has recommended a booster shot for certain people six months after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Studies show that protection against the virus may decrease over time. Boosters provide an increased immune response to provide improved protection against CVOID-19.  You can get a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine if you got your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago and are at higher risk for COVID-19. This includes people 65 and older, people who are 18 and older who are BIPOC, those who live with someone who is BIPOC, have certain medical conditions, or work in indoor settings where you interact with the public and other workers.  Booster vaccines have only been approved for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine that are 18 and older at this time.  

• The CDC also recommends that people with moderate to severely compromised immune systems should receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least 28 days after their second dose. Visit the Vermont Department of Health for more information about applicable health conditions, and talk to your health care provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you. 

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$14.5 Million Terminal Integration Project Underway at Burlington International Airport 

Expansion to Make Airport Safer, Easier to Navigate and More Welcoming to Visitors 

Burlington, VT – Yesterday, Mayor Miro Weinberger, federal partners including Senator Patrick Leahy and Chris Nelson of TSA, and Airport leadership, met to celebrate the construction of the planned Terminal Integration Project. The more than 30,000 square foot expansion is on target to open to travelers next fall and will house five TSA screening lanes, an expanded queuing and, space for concessions.  

“Without the major, federal grant award this would not be possible. I am grateful to the entire federal delegation, and to Senator Leahy in particular, for their enduring advocacy for Vermont. I would also like to thank our entire talented Airport team for shepherding this vision to reality,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “This expansion will make the Burlington International Airport safer, easier to navigate, and more welcoming to visitors, and it is a foundational investment in the future of the Airport.”  

The Terminal Integration Project (TIP) will cost $14.5 million and has received 90% funding through a FAA Airport Improvement Program Grant.  

The project is a two-story expansion to the existing terminal building and will consolidate the two existing Security Screening Checkpoints located at the North and South ends of the existing terminal, allowing for all departing passengers to be routed in a consistent manner, regardless of airline or departure gate. Space limitations in the existing building require future terminal and gate expansion at the Airport to be in a southward direction. The TIP project is an essential first step toward any future growth.  

The already underway construction does not restrict visitors use of the existing TSA checkpoints or Airport services.  

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STATEMENT 

Contact: Samantha Sheehan 

ssheehan@burlingtonvt.gov 

(802) 734-0617 

October 14^th, 2021

Burlington, VT - Yesterday, Burlington Police and Fire responded to multiple incidents at the site of the Sears Lane encampment, including one incident where police and federal law enforcement partners executed a warrant following a month-long narcotics investigation into trafficking and one where a camper pointed an assault-style airsoft gun (a replica pellet gun) at Burlington Fire personnel who were responding to a medical emergency. Today, Burlington Police have issued a notice to leave and remove possessions by October 19^th in accordance with the City of Burlington’s Encampment Policy.  

Mayor Weinberger made the following statement: 

“In response to yesterday’s confirmation of serious criminal activity and the hostile threat towards our first responders at the Sears Lane encampment, I have directed the Burlington Police Department to issue notices of trespass to any campers residing on the City-owned lot immediately. 

Prior to today, in the face of an enormous and acute housing shortage, the City team had been working diligently through the summer to protect public health and safety and to find a way for this City-owned land to help address community housing needs in the short- and longer-term. However, in attempting to generate new, needed housing the City’s intent was never to protect criminal activity.  It is clear that the encampment at Sears Lane has become untenable and unacceptable.”  

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Functional and Operational Assessment of Burlington Police Department Supports Raised Officer Cap and Expanded Public Safety Resources 

Assessment Supports Sworn Officer Cap of 85-88, Expanded Mental Health Resources, and a Strengthened Police Commission; Mayor Opposes Removal of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Specialists 

Burlington, VT – Today, the Joint Committee on Public Safety Transformation released the final Functional and Operational Assessment. The Assessment was conducted by the consultancy firm CNA, who began working with the City in March 2021. The Assessment includes 149 evidence-based findings and recommendations, with a focus on five areas: BPD training and operations, racial and socioeconomic bias analysis, staffing and workload analysis, specialized and alternative responses to policing, and an implementation roadmap.  

"This extensive document addresses many critical policing issues and I am hopeful that it will prove to be an important tool in developing consensus about the future of policing in Burlington and further improving our excellent and forward-thinking police department,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I am pleased to see that CNA affirms several priorities of the Administration, including restoring the number of  sworn officers to an effective and sufficient level as I have advocated for throughout the last year, and expanding alternative public safety resources.  I also appreciate that the report has brought attention to numerous additional opportunities to strengthen the department and transform public safety. I am grateful for the hard work of REIB Director Tyeastia Green and her Department for REIB’s management of this process, and I look forward to continued community engagement around the findings of this assessment.”  

1. Key findings Support the Administration’s Actions to Advance Police Transformation and Expand Public Safety Resources 

1. CNA’s findings confirm that Burlington’s Police Department is currently understaffed and the Administration is justified in raising staffing concerns. 

• CNA states “BPD is presently understaffed for its volume of calls for service and relies on an inefficient staffing model.” [pg. 60]  

• CNA’s analysis found that in 2019, when BPD employed 96 sworn officers, the Department was appropriately staffed, stating that “patrol was staffed by 62 sworn police officers (1 deputy chief, 4 lieutenants, 7 sergeants, and 50 police officers). These 62 of the 96 sworn officers represent 64.2 percent of the sworn officers in the BPD. Accordingly, the department is about where it should be with the ratio of sworn officers dedicated to the patrol function in 2019.” [pg. 63] 

• CNA stated “Because this assessment and analysis utilized 2019 staffing levels, it is not surprising, and perhaps justified if CFS [Call For Service] data in July 2021 are consistent with July 2019 data, that the “alarm bells” currently being rung by BPD are appropriate given higher summer CFS, paired with the reduction in staffing by 30 percent, along with the stated attrition that is occurring in the department and without alternative response programs presently in place to “pick up” the CFS that do not necessarily require police response." [pg. 69]  

• More recent data does not suggest that demands on the BPD have lessened significantly since 2019. While the overall number of police incidents have declined (from 37,300 incidents in 2015 to 23,600 incidents in 2020) some high-priority incident types have increased since the pandemic, including: gunfire incidents, overdoses, and those requiring a mental health response. Comparing 18-month periods before and after March 13, 2020*;  

• Gunfire incidents have increased more than 200 percent, from 6 to 23. 

• Overdoses have increased 74 percent, from 97 to 169. 

• Mental health incidents have increased 21.6 percent, from 1202 to 1462. 

• The number of sworn officers has decreased from 96 in early 2019 to 68 today. 

• Calls for service for crashes, intoxication, domestic assault, and retail theft decreased in the 18-months since March 13, 2020. 

2. CNA recommends restoring Officers to the range that the Mayor has been advocating for since the City Council’s action to reduce officers in 2020. 

• The CNA report supports raising the authorized headcount to between 85 and 88 sworn-officers which accommodates attrition and officers assigned to Burlington International Airport (BIA), per these findings: 

• “...it is recommended that the patrol function could be adequately staffed with 51 sworn officers assigned to patrol (1 deputy chief, 4 lieutenants, 6 sergeants, and 40 officers), with an overall department size of 72-75 sworn.” [pg. 60-61] 

• “In order to account for naturally occurring attrition, largely the gap between training and onboarding new officers while other officers leave the department, our analysis indicates this number should be adjusted upward by five officers, with an authorized headcount of 77-80 sworn, with 72-75 deployable at all times.” [pg. 61]  

• “There are presently 7 officers and 1 Sergeant deployed to BIA.  These officers would need to be added to the sworn headcount to continue to provide this contracted service.” [pg. 61] Thus, until and unless a change in airport police staffing is made - the report’s findings in combination mean that an authorized head count of 85-88 sworn officers is needed. 

• Per item #5 of this memo below, the Mayor does not currently support the reductions of service that would be needed, per the CNA report, for an authorized headcount of less than 88. 

• In his proposed FY 21 Budget Resolution the Mayor proposed sustaining 85-90 sworn officers until the completion of this assessment. 

• The City Council, by a 7-5 vote, amended this resolution to reduce the authorized cap of officers to 74. 

• The Mayor subsequently supported a City Council resolution to raise the authorized cap to 84 last January, and then the Police Commission proposal to raise the cap to 82 in August, both of which were rejected. 

3. CNA recommendations support expanding police oversight in a manner fully consistent with the Mayor’s proposal from December 2020 to amend the City Charter to strengthen the existing Police Commission. 

• CNA finds that, “The City of Burlington should formalize the authority of the Police Commission, which should be greater than an advisory role, and clearly outline the reach of their responsibilities. As protocol, all relevant supporting case file materials (BWC, Use of Force reports, Interview statements etc.) should be reviewed by the police commission (or other community member oversight review board), which would be utilized to support the Chief's recommended disciplinary decision (or to make alternative recommendations to the Chief for consideration).  Ultimately, it is customary that the Chief makes the final disciplinary decision, however, full review of all supporting case file documents is important to increase transparency and provide important information that supports (or negates) the Chief's recommendation and ultimate decision.” [pg. 32] 

4. CNA supports several of the major BPD initiatives the Administration has recently launched or implemented, including the expansions to CSO and CSL positions, as formally presented by the Mayor and Acting Police Chief Murad to the City Council in January 2020. 

• “Also recommended in the memorandum to the City Council, the Chief recommended increasing the number of Community Service Officers (CSO) assigned to the department...The chief should be commended for making this recommendation.” [pg. 84] 

• “On May 24, 2021 the BPD issued a ‘Priority Response Plan’”...This is an excellent approach to managing CFS service demands, and the chief should be commended for this approach.” [pg. 85-86]  

• Creating partnerships for 24-hour mental health and medical support embedded within the department. [pg. 92] The Mayor included $400,000 in the FY 22 budget to pilot such an initiative. 

• CNA praised Burlington’s Use of Force Policy and recommends minor changes. Beginning today (October 1, 2020) a new state-wide Use of Force Policy recently passed in the Vermont State Legislature will now supersede Burlington’s policy. [pg. 8] 

5. The Mayor supports a robust process with the City Council to review all of the 149 recommendations by CNA in the weeks and months ahead, including:  

• Redesigning and renegotiating the officer shifts from the current configuration. (Note: the Administration is unlikely to support the 12-hour shifts recommended by CNA.) 

• Retaining officer disciplinary records for longer. [pg. 17] 

• A community process to revise directives for how police interact with persons living with mental health conditions and disabilities. [pg. 96] 

• New positions for a civilian analyst and one cross-designated sergeant to serve as Criminal Intelligence Officer. [pg. 79] (The City currently employs a Police Data Analyst in the Planning Department.) 

• Expanding opportunities for proactive community engagement and one-on-one relationship building. [pg. 161] 

6. While the Administration is committed to a good faith review of all of the report’s recommendations with the City Council, CNA recommends considering some service reductions the Mayor currently does not support, including: 

• The removal of the Department’s dedicated Domestic Violence Prevention Officer, which CNA says is “an excellent service”, but is the first sworn officer position that should be diffused when facing a 30 percent reduction [pg. 80].  

• Reducing by two-thirds Burlington’s commitment to staff the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI), a multi-agency task force that investigates reports of sexual assault, other serious sexual offenses, and serious child abuse and neglect in Chittenden County. [pg. 81]  

*Data comparing police incidents in 18-month periods before and after March 13, 2020 is from BPD’s internal tracking, and analysis was provided by the City of Burlington’s internal analysists. Police incident data is always available online through the City’s Open Data Portal. 

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