Burlington Police Are Increasingly Demoralized

The survey questions were open-ended and asked, in essence: Why are you still working at the Burlington Police Department? What do you want to see changed? What is the major reason you're staying? What would keep you from leaving if you're looking elsewhere?

The anonymous answers were brutal:

"The job used to be fun and occasionally satisfying and rewarding but now it's constantly miserable," was one response that Corrow read to the commission. "Most of that misery is being generated by the city administration/council ... the most dishonest group of people I've encountered in my entire profession. I've given the best years of my life in this job getting kicked, punched and spit on only to be rewarded with a group of people spreading lies and hatred about me and my coworkers to further their misguided ideologies."

Another said: "Last summer my daughter was terrorized at Burlington Parks and Rec summer camp by other children when she mentioned I'm a police officer. They threatened to light our car on fire and kill me and my wife. My daughter has had difficulties processing this and still will not talk to me about it."
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/burlington-police-are-increasingly-demoralized-and-planning-to-leave-their-jobs/Content?oid=33532890

Efforts to cut police officers in Burlington has lead to increased community complaints, increased violence in the downtown area, mandatory overtime for those officers who have remained, and - now - in a complete turn - a call to hire MORE officers

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2021/08/02/burlington-police-commission-recommends-raising-roster-cap