By Michael Bielawski,
The Burlington Police Department announced on Wednesday that two new officers will join their ranks. This news comes as the department continues to struggle with overall officer counts as well as the chief leaving his job.
“We are beyond excited to welcome two new officers to the Burlington! Today, colleagues traveled down to the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford for the graduation ceremony – it was an honor to witness and take part in the celebratory day. Congratulations and thank you to the entire 118th graduating class – we are grateful for your commitment to serve our communities,” their Facebook post states.
There are no further details available. The Department has struggled to keep its ranks up since they were defunded via attrition in June of 2020.
In the October Chief’s report, “As of Oct 15, 2024, we are authorized for 87 sworn officers. Of those 87, we employ 65. Of those 65, 59 are able to be deployed as solo officers, or ‘effective.’”
Public unhappy with City Council and mayor
Residents have been expressing frustration with the current situation. The officer count continues to be too low for any reasonable coverage of the city, morale is at an all time low with the passing of a recent oversight measure, and the resignation of Jon Murad has sent shockwaves throughtout Burlington.
@MeisterSki wrote on X, “It’s sad that Chief Murad is leaving Burlington police department. We all know about his frustrations with the Mayor and City Council, BPD police department's budget has been dramatically reduced with many officers let go. This doesn’t make Burlington’s streets safer.”
@muttilolly wrote on X, “When is it all enough for residents to see they have a mayor and council who can’t do the job and don’t understand real life? Mural has done a great job while being hassled by these clowns. They were lucky to have him.”
Another post suggests that the mayor’s office has already chosen an ad agency for recruiting the next chief and he is unimpressed. @MRL325i wrote, “Hyphen mayor has already hired an agency to do the recruitment ad. Here is an example of their work:”
Cocaine distribution arrest, two officers sustain injuries
On Monday there was an arrest made of an individual now charged with the distribution of cocaine. A man was pulled over because he had forgotten to turn on the headlights on his car. Upon pulling over the vehicle, the officers learned the driver, Oliver Reed, 41, of Burlington, already had an active warrant.
The police report states, “Reed impeded officers’ efforts to detain him. Officers informed Reed he was under arrest and gave him commands to stop resisting. Two officers sustained minor injuries due to Reed resisting arrest.”
Next they found the drugs. “After a search of Reed to arrest, a substance was located on his person – the substance later tested presumptive positive for cocaine. Reed was taken into custody for impeding a police officer, resisting arrest, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute,” the report states.
Reed has a lengthy record including “4 failures to appear, 11 violations of court order or conditions charges with 2 convictions, 1 felony charge, 21 misdemeanor charges with 11 convictions, 2 assaultive crime charges with 2 convictions, and 2 violation of probable/parole charges.”
Dogs found
There are multiple dogs recently found by the Department, their photos and other details are on the Department’s Facebook page. One was a female beagle found near Flynn Avenue and Champlain Parkway. Another was a brown and white, male pit bull found at Smalley Park.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle
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