A former Brattleboro police officer who had been convicted of domestic assault has permanently lost his certification to work as a law enforcement officer in Vermont.
Chad Emery entered into a “consent order” on Sept. 18 with the Vermont Criminal Justice Council that resulted in his decertification as a police officer in the state. The council voted to approve that order at its Sept. 19 meeting and recently posted the document to its website.
A voicemail left for Emery at his current workplace was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon. The consent order did not indicate the name of an attorney representing Emery.
“(Emery) enters no further admissions here, but to resolve this matter without further time, expense, and uncertainty,” the consent order stated. “Respondent has concluded that this agreement is acceptable and in the best interest of the parties.”
According to council records, Vermont State Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at Emery’s home in Guilford in June 2020. A woman there told police that Emery had assaulted her and struck her in the face by swinging open a bedroom door.
Emery was charged with two counts of domestic assault and one count of aggravated disorderly, council records stated. He resigned from the Brattleboro Police Department in July 2020. According to his social media profile, Emery was with the department for more than 15 years.
In March, Emery pleaded guilty to one count of domestic assault and one count of disorderly conduct. His sentencing was deferred for one year and he was placed on probation. If Emery abides by the terms of his probation, the convictions will be cleared from his record.
His case was prosecuted by the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office, and not the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office, to avoid a conflict due to his work in law enforcement in Windham County.
“Emery’s admission of guilt to domestic assault constitutes unprofessional conduct as it is a misdemeanor,” council records stated.
In addition to the permanent revocation of Emery’s certification in Vermont, his decertification will be reported to the International Association of Law Enforcement Standards and Training National Decertification database, which houses the National Decertification index, according to Christopher Brickell, deputy director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council.
Emery will also have to provide a copy of the consent order in this case to “any law enforcement agency to which he makes application for employment” in “any location jurisdiction where he may apply,” according to council records.
“As far as a council sanction,” Brickell said Tuesday of permanent revocation of certification, “that is the maximum sanction that can be imposed.”
A total of seven law enforcement officers in Vermont have had their certification revoked since the start of the year, according to Brickell. In 2022, he said, two officers had their law enforcement certifications revoked.
