City council seeks group to oversee police

VERGENNES — The Vergennes City Council and more than five dozen people discussed the need for a citizen group to oversee the city police force in a July 16 meeting that started off with the resignation of Mayor Jeff Fritz. Despite the hullabaloo caused by Fritz’s resignation (see story on Page 1A), the Zoom meeting drew an exchange of views among the estimated 75 attendees on the proposed police panel. This past Thursday’s discussion followed a July 14 council meeting at which two residents, Matt White and … (read more)

BRISTOL — Bristol residents who wish to learn more about the policies, practices and culture of the Bristol Police Department will soon get the chance to share their questions and concerns with BPD Chief Bruce Nason and other town officials. The selectboa … (read more)

https://youtu.be/hkGSj3vrHfE Middlebury police are asking for the public’s help in looking for someone who painted hate speech on sidewalks in Middlebury late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.  See the full story by clicking here.

Middlebury police are asking for the public’s help in looking for someone who painted hate speech on sidewalks in Middlebury late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Shortly after 5 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, several hate symbols were found painted … (read more)

VERGENNES — Vergennes and Northlands Job Corps have struck a deal that will pay the city $51,000 a year for police services, including student outreach and mentoring and staff training as well as law enforcement. The city has for 21 years sought compensat … (read more)

VERGENNES — The Vergennes City Council will hold a special online meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday to talk about an unspecified allegation against the city’s police department. The one item on the agenda reads, “Discussion regarding accusations that the V … (read more)

VERGENNES — The Vergennes City Council will hold a special online meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday to talk about an unspecified allegation against the city’s police department. The one item on the agenda reads, “Discussion regarding accusations that the V … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury police are investigating an on-going issue involving a male verbally assailing others with racist comments. Authorities are looking for people who have been subject to such behavior. The police are encouraging anyone who has been s … (read more)

BRANDON — A Black man who was ordered by Middlebury police to “raise his hands” after an erroneous report that he had been detaining a woman at gunpoint off Mary Hogan Drive is now talking about the incident. Bashiru Abdulaziz, a 38-year-old man who lives … (read more)

The Vermont House approved police reform legislation Friday that requires all state police to wear body cameras, prohibits officers from using chokeholds and other similar restraint techniques, while also mandating that the Legislature pass additional cri … (read more)

In early June, a group of friends and I organized a vigil on the Bristol green to honor the life of George Floyd and raise awareness about police brutality. The aim was to connect people with resources for antiracist self-education and action, and encoura … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — More than a dozen people have asked officials here to redirect the Middlebury Police Department’s voter-approved $46,234 budget increase for fiscal year 2021, and to begin looking at ways to “defund” the MPD. A national call for defunding pol … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — An erroneous report alleging that a Black man had pulled a woman out of a car at gunpoint near Mary Hogan Elementary School on Monday, June 22, led Middlebury police to order the man to raise his hands and submit to a pat-down. The man at the … (read more)

VERGENNES — An eight-member panel of Vergennes residents is working on a charge for a city Citizen Review Board that could be established within a month and make recommendations to City Manager Daniel Hofman on Vergennes police operations, policies and ac … (read more)

In principle, we’re in favor of the protests around the country calling to review and restrain police budgets that have been ramped up over the past decade or more as the nation has seemingly adopted a more militaristic approach to police work. The initia … (read more)