Orange County Sheriff George Contois, temporarily suspended after failing to complete use-of-force training, had his certification reinstated late last month, according to Christopher Brickell, deputy director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council.
Contois returned to “full-time status” on July 25, according to Brickell.
Contois’ certification was temporarily suspended this summer for not completing two of the four hours of use-of-force training required by the Vermont Police Academy.
At the time, Heather Simons, the criminal justice council’s executive director, wrote in a letter to Contois that his certification’s suspension was due to “the safety risk, to yourself and the public, caused by your non-compliance.”
Contois told VTDigger at the time that he received a warning about his incomplete training hours several weeks prior but did not expect the suspension to move through so quickly. He said he completed the necessary training in the days after the suspension.
Contois did not respond to questions on Monday, and a personal phone number previously used by the sheriff had been disconnected.
Hubbardton Constable Floyd Morey, whose law enforcement license was also suspended this summer, remains in “suspended status” until he is able to complete firearms training, Brickell wrote in an email. Morey previously told the council that part of his trigger finger had been amputated and requested a waiver for firearms training, which was denied.
