Report: Streamline Vt. police work
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By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau - Published: February 21, 2009
MONTPELIER – A long- awaited study of law enforcement in Vermont released Friday recommended broad changes to policing in this state.
The study, which cost about $150,000, found unnecessary administration and overlapping of agencies that could be streamlined for greater efficiencies.
It said several state law enforcement agencies – the Department of Liquor Control, game wardens, the Department of Motor Vehicles enforcement arm and the Vermont State Police — should all be consolidated under the Department of Public Safety.
There are also other changes in administration and organization of the state law enforcement agencies that are needed, according to the report prepared by consultants for the Legislature.
As for those towns that do not have their own police, they need to coordinate policing with neighboring municipalities to rely less on state police for minor matters and depend more on constables, according to the report.
The study by the Public Safety Strategies Group was based on analysis of law enforcement data, interviews and surveys of police officers and meetings with state and municipal officials.
"I think they know every law enforcement officer in the state now," said Rep. Donna Sweaney, D-Windsor, chairwoman of the House Government Operations Committee. "It is a work in progress. Change is always hard, but there is a lot in it that makes sense."
Vermont Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas Tremblay said the report should be studied carefully.
"It is a very interesting report with some interesting recommendations we are open to," he said. The study found that police agencies are doing a good job and working together well, he noted. But, particularly in the current economic difficulty, new ways to increase efficiency while keeping this one of the safest states in the country should be looked for, Tremblay said.
State Sen. Jeannette White, D-Windham, said the benefit of the consultant's report is that its authors did not come into the study with their own preconceptions and biases.
"We have known for years that we have to do something" about the structure of law enforcement, White said.
"I think that some of their suggestions are really good," White said. "Many of their recommendations will give us much better coverage and much better protection."
Barre Police Chief Timothy Bombardier said Friday he has not thoroughly read the study and didn't want to comment. But Rutland County Sheriff Stephen Benard said the report should be carefully considered, and added that some of the recommendations are probably worth implementing.
"People in the law enforcement community shouldn't let their emotions get in the way of what it says," he said. "This study has been a long time coming. The legislators ought to take some time to digest it and move forward with some of the recommendations."
The work needed to implement some of the recommendations, like an emphasis on regional organization of policing, would likely fall on the sheriff's offices around the state.
"Especially in Rutland County, the sheriff's office stands ready to do that," Benard said. "Towns are going to have to be able to opt in or opt out."
If towns were to contract less with state police for law enforcement the sheriffs' offices could pick up much of the slack without having to add overhead like administration, evidence control or other needs.
That should not add to local property taxes because in most cases the contracts would replace similar ones already entered into with state police or other agencies, Sweaney said.
Scott Tucker, a captain with the Rutland City Police Department and President of the Vermont Police Association, said he is in the early stages of examining the report. But in the past the organization has been very leery of combining Fish and Wildlife Department law enforcement officers, those in liquor control and other places.
"Typically the Vermont Police Association has said those folks have joined their specialty to do the kind of work they are doing," Tucker said. "Our position has been to keep those operations separate."
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