Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement Regarding Next Steps to Stabilize the Police Department and the Chief Search
Burlington, VT – On November 5, 2021, Mayor Miro Weinberger notified the City Council by letter that the Police Chief Search Committee determined the current applicant pool was insufficient for a permanent appointment, and that he had suspended the search pending further Council action. Friday, November 12, he sent a communication to the Council outlining what steps would be necessary to support a successful search and stated that without those actions by Council by its next scheduled meeting on December 13, he would instead move forward interviewing the two strong candidates already identified through the months-long search process and bring an appointment to the Council for confirmation. Mayor Weinberger made the following statement:
"Burlingtonians want us to choose a Chief from a large and competitive pool of leaders eager to serve our City. I am prepared to continue working towards this goal with the Council’s support. However, we are at a crossroads and must make a decision soon that results in the appointment of a permanent Police Chief. This is a critical step toward stabilizing the Department in order to provide the quality of emergency services that Burlingtonians expect and deserve, and to advance the many expansions to Public Safety already underway and that we all want to see realized.
I trust that the City Council shares the Admiration's goal, and the community’s rightful expectation, that we reach agreement soon and appoint a permanent chief in order to rebuild and re-envision a world-class police department for Burlington."
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