Stealing from an evidence room, not properly following pursuit policy, and unjust use of force are among the misconduct claims described in the latest semiannual report on complaints leading to internal Vermont State Police investigations.
The report covers the period from July 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022. In that time, three troopers resigned amid investigations into their conduct. The two-page report does not provide a full accounting of the complaints and investigations, instead providing short summaries of the misconduct allegations that came before the State Police Advisory Commission.
The seven-member commission provides “advice and counsel” to the commissioner of public safety, who oversees the Vermont State Police, on matters regarding misconduct allegations that rise to the level of internal investigations against state police officers.
During the six-month period covered by the latest report, eight misconduct cases led to internal investigations.
Of those cases, according to the report, two resulted in findings that state police members violated policy; two were determined to have represented no policy violations; and in three other matters the troopers resigned before the review process could be completed. The final matter has been paused because it is currently a pending criminal case.
The report does not include identifying information about the troopers. However, VTDigger has previously reported on some of the matters described, including the one involving criminal charges.
In that case, Trooper Zachary Trocki and Sgt. Ryan Wood, both of the Westminster barracks, face reckless endangerment charges stemming from an incident in 2022 during which one of the troopers fired a bean bag projectile that seriously injured a 61-year-old Newfane man. The troopers have denied wrongdoing and the case remains pending. Both troopers are currently suspended.
Among the other incidents detailed in the report include an allegation that a trooper accessed the social media account of another person without permission. That trooper has since resigned, according to the report.
Also, two troopers allegedly used excessive force while firing their guns on duty, but an investigation found that no policies were violated.
A trooper in a separate case, according to the report, was issued a letter of reprimand and lost one day of annual leave for violating a state police policy regarding motor vehicle pursuits. Another trooper, according to the report, was issued a letter of reprimand for violating a policy related to interfering with the investigation of another police agency.
An investigation into whether a trooper acted inappropriately by violating a civil contract resulted in no policy or conduct violations, the report stated.
Also, according to the report, a trooper resigned before an investigation in the theft of property from an evidence room could be completed. Though the trooper is not named, the description appears to match an incident that led to criminal charges against former trooper Giancarlo DiGenova, who has pleaded not guilty to 20 criminal charges relating to allegations that he stole seized property.
Nancy Sheahan, chair of the commission, said Friday that internal affairs investigations are confidential by statute, and therefore, the identities of the troopers are withheld.
“We’re trying to give the public some information but also trying to be consistent with the statute,” Sheahan said. “This is going as far as people are comfortable going so as not to run afoul of those restrictions.”
There are times when the identities of troopers involved in alleged misconduct do become public, particularly when criminal charges are filed.
In those instances, the identities still remain shielded in the report. According to Sheahan, that’s because the report is governed by rules regarding internal state police matters.
