BURLINGTON — The Burlington City Council quashed a move proposed by Progressives to disarm and shrink the city’s police department, and passed a resolution Monday supporting law enforcement.
City Council President Kurt Wright, R-Ward 4, proposed a resolution that reiterated council support for the department and called out comments made by Progressive councilors about potentially reducing the size of the force and a suggestion from Councilor Perri Freeman, P-Central District, that the department should consider disarming officers.
The council passed Wright’s resolution in a 7-5 vote after rejecting an amendment from Progressive councilors in a 5-7 vote.
Councilors Freeman, Max Tracy, P-Ward 2; Jack Hanson, P-East District; Ali Dieng, D/P-Ward 7; and Brian Pine, P-Ward 3, voted against Wright’s resolution.
In May, four black men filed two federal lawsuits alleging police brutality last year. Body camera footage showed the men were forcibly pushed and tackled by Burlington officers.
The council set up a special committee in June to review the department’s policies and procedures, including civilian oversight structures, use of force policy, officer training, disciplinary processes and other practices. The committee will bring recommendations to the council by the end of November.
Wright said that officers had been “demoralized” and that he was concerned about “horrific” statements about officers in recent months.
“When I hear police officers called thugs, violent predators, and other comments I won’t repeat, that is concerning to me and demoralizing to police officers,” he said.
Wright said he supported the work of the committee and agrees a review is necessary, but officers are looking to leave Burlington for surrounding towns because they’ve just “had enough.”
“I think it’s important for us as a body to stand up and say, ‘We support the police, we think they have an incredibly difficult job and we believe they should carry their firearms,” he said.
Wright’s resolution stated that despite the “serious incidents” that lead to the review of the department’s policies, the department responds appropriately to thousands of calls each year and deserves commendation for its work.
The resolution reiterated the council’s support of the department and its officers and “additionally understands the need and importance for our officers to continue to carry firearms to protect themselves and the public.”
“Some comments by the public and Council about our police officers, including suggestions to reduce the size of our police force and conversations about potentially de-weaponizing the Department have served to demoralize many of the sworn members of the Burlington Police Department,” the resolution said.
In a June resolution, Councilors Tracy, Hanson and Freeman proposed that the department stop hiring new officers, instead “freeing up funds to be used for the hiring of social workers and other social service providers.” That resolution failed in a 3-9 vote.
Freeman asked Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo about the department’s use of firearms at the council’s May 14 meeting. Freeman asked del Pozo how the city could move to having unarmed officers.
“We are a state with one of the lowest levels of violent crime, and I think that is an aspect in trying to dismantle sort of a culture of violence and militarization we’ve had for a long time,” Freeman said.
Del Pozo said at that meeting that due to the public availability of guns in Vermont, he would not advocate any officer patrol without a firearm, despite saying he agreed that firearm use should be a “last resort” for officers.
“I just think in Vermont, where guns are regulated, it just doesn’t seem like a safe proposition for our cops,” del Pozo said.
Despite headlines stating that Freeman was “pushing to disarm” the department, Freeman never made a formal proposal on the matter.
At Monday’s meeting, Freeman said she did not think it was healthy to silence conversations around policing practices.
“Unfortunately, what this does … is it says that people’s feelings are more important than people’s lives,” Freeman said.
Pine said that he believed the resolution was painting those who questioned or criticized the police as “enemies.”
“In a democracy, we should tolerate every level of discourse and dialogue, whether we like it or not,” Pine said.
Councilor Karen Paul, D-Ward 6, supported Wright’s amendment and said that officers were demoralized by comments from members of the public and elected officials.
“While they can make comments, they need to understand that those issues really do demoralize the people we are entrusting to protect us,” Paul said.
Tracy’s proposed amendments to Wright’s resolution, which failed, stated that “criticism and feedback should not automatically be conflated with a lack of appreciation.” Tracy’s amendment reiterated the council’s support for the committee evaluating the department and addressed the firearms discussion.
“The Burlington City Council understands that firearms are one tool among many that can be used to ensure public safety and that they should only be used as a last resort when all other non-violent de-escalation measures have failed,” Tracy’s amendment stated.
In another incident this year, Douglas Kilburn, 54, died days after an encounter with Burlington Officer Cory Campbell in March. Kilburn has been punched by Campbell in an altercation at the University of Vermont Medical Center and his death was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner.
A handful of speakers during public forum spoke on Wright’s resolution, and some officers attended the meeting. Del Pozo, who returned from a six week medical and family leave last week, was also in attendance.
Brian Waters, a member of BTV CopWatch, a local group which he said educates residents about their rights and films police officers at work, spoke against the resolution as written.
“The resolution reads like an attempt to shame members of this council and shame residents, your constituents, for daring to be critical of the police, without so much as even acknowledging the racism and violence that’s at the root of this criticism,” he said.
Ericka Redic, who lives in the New North End and ran for City Council last year, thanked the department for protecting her and her neighbors despite being “condemned bitterly” by the community.
“Thank you, Burlington Police Department, for not giving up on Burlington even though Burlington has given up on you,” Redic said.
