BURLINGTON — Officer Cory Campbell received a letter of reprimand from the Burlington Police Department for violating a department rule by swearing during his altercation with Douglas Kilburn, but did not face any discipline for his use of force.
Kilburn died days after Campbell punched him in the ambulance bay of the University of Vermont Medical Center in March 2019. The medical examiner ruled Kilburn’s death a homicide, meaning that Kilburn would not have died if he had not been punched by Campbell.
Campbell’s body camera footage showed Kilburn punching Campbell before Campbell punched him back, leaving Kilburn bleeding heavily from his face. Attorney General TJ Donovan determined that Campbell’s use of force was “reasonable and justified” and did not file charges against Campbell.
Acting Police Chief Jon Murad announced the result of the department’s internal investigation into Campbell in a Friday afternoon press release. Campbell returned to active patrol duties in November.
The investigation determined that Campbell violated a department policy that states that employees should be courteous to members of the public.
“Professional standards and ethics must always be followed and the use of violent, insolent, or obscene language or gestures is prohibited,” the policy states.
During the altercation, Campbell yelled at Kilburn to “Shut the fuck up and leave,” which visibly upset Kilburn.
Under the police union’s contract, “rudeness” is listed as a lower-level infraction and “more substantial courtesy matters” is a mid-level infraction.
“The second-order effects of Officer Campbell’s use of obscenity — the fact that it did not deescalate Mr. Kilburn’s behavior prior to his assault on Officer Campbell — suggests that this extends beyond a lower-level infraction,” the department’s release states.
The determination of Campbell’s discipline included “lengthy discussion with and input from,” the Burlington Police Commission, the department’s release said.
The department determined that training and a written reprimand is the appropriate discipline for the offense.
Campbell has received substantial training and retraining in the nine months since the altercation, the department said.
Murad said Campbell’s conduct since returning to duty in November has been “excellent.”
“This incident drives home a fact officers already know: how we serve our city matters,” Murad said. “We have been and will continue addressing issues around courtesy, but I am proud of our record.”
Murad said in the release that Campbell’s use of force was appropriate.
“I concur with the Attorney General that Officer Campbell’s use of force was lawful and proper,” Murad said. “Furthermore, his transition from self-defense to apprehension was fast and appropriate, and after custody and control was established, he rendered care immediately.”
Kilburn’s widow, Sherry Kilburn, attended Donovan’s November press conference announcing no charges and said she believed Campbell should have faced criminal consequences.
“It really sucks all these cops keep killing people and getting away with it and being called justified,” she said.
