August 25, 2022

State law-enforcement agencies fine-tune operational protocols to enhance public safety

 

State law-enforcement agencies fine-tune operational protocols to enhance public safety


MONTPELIER, Vermont (Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022) — The state agencies and departments with law-enforcement responsibilities are taking new steps to enhance public safety by maximizing response capacity.

 

The departments of Public Safety, Fish and Wildlife, Liquor and Lottery, and Motor Vehicles are strengthening existing enforcement-focused partnerships and improving day-to-day coordination and operational efficiency to focus on addressing violent crime and preventing fatal crashes on Vermont's roads.

 

The four departmental law-enforcement agencies are the Vermont State Police; the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Warden Service Division; Department of Liquor and Lottery's Office of Compliance and Enforcement; and the Enforcement and Safety Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Although each law-enforcement agency wears a different uniform and reports through a different chain of command, public safety officials remind Vermonters that they all have the same statutory authority to enforce the laws of Vermont throughout the state.

 

Strengthening the partnership between state law-enforcement agencies allows each agency to better share intelligence, data and resources in service of the state's public safety priorities.  The stepped-up state-level collaboration is in addition to increased coordination with federal law enforcement partners and part of Gov. Phil Scott's 10-point public safety enhancement and violence prevention action plan. 

 

"Like every sector, as the state's population continues to age and the workforce gets smaller, many state and local law-enforcement agencies across Vermont face hiring and retention challenges," Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said. "At the same time, there are increases in criminal activity that need to be addressed, and this is going to require creative solutions and coordination that optimizes our operational capacity."

 

ONGOING OPERATIONAL COORDINATION IS KEY

To ensure ongoing coordination and a nimble response to public safety needs statewide, Governor Scott has directed department leaders to meet weekly to coordinate operations, develop specific metrics for measuring the impact of changes, and to adjust, as needed, to prioritize efforts and respond to conditions on the ground.

 

"I've asked the departments to find more ways to coordinate law-enforcement efforts and strengthen the state's data-driven, intelligence-based response to crime," Governor Scott said.  "While the law enforcement entities in these agencies and departments have long-worked together and intersected on multiple cases and investigations, more clearly defined areas of operational responsibility will help support response capacity statewide."


In the near term, as the State works to hire more law enforcement officers, these operational modifications will support law enforcement capacity to respond to the most pressing and urgent public safety needs. And for the longer term, these efforts are a first step in what the Governor expects to be continuous improvement in the level of coordination and collaboration between state law enforcement assets.

 

Specifically:

 

  • DLL's Office of Compliance and Enforcement will conduct follow-up investigations on all alcohol-related crashes involving liquor licenses, handle all enforcement concerns of the Cannabis Control Board when it needs law enforcement support, and investigate unemployment benefits fraud cases for the Department of Labor. 
  • DMV's Enforcement and Safety Division will handle all crashes involving commercial vehicles and provide a higher-profile presence on highways and state routes. DMV Inspectors will continue to support federal, state, and municipal law enforcement partners with emergency response and investigative assistance.
  • Fish and Wildlife's Warden Service Division will handle all accidental hunting-related shootings, provide primary response for patrols and investigations on state land (including access areas, state parks, and Wildlife Management Areas), and conduct all animal cruelty investigations
  • The Vermont State Police will continue to conduct statewide criminal investigations and use increased capacity created by these clarified areas of responsibility to help sustain community patrols and response, and the statewide focus on addressing violent crime, drug-related incidents, and domestic violence.

 


STATEMENTS FROM AGENCY/DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVES

 "Our dedicated Enforcement and Safety team at the Department of Motor Vehicles are experts in their field and will work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all travelers on our state highway system and are eager to do their part help expand the State's capacity to address pressing public safety concerns," Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn said.

 

"Public safety is at the core of our mission," said Wendy Knight, commissioner of the Department of Liquor and Lottery. "DLL's talented team of law-enforcement officers is committed to applying their investigative skills in this statewide, collaborative initiative to ensure the safety of Vermont communities."

 

"The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is committed to doing its part for the public safety of all Vermonters," Commissioner Christopher Herrick said. "While taking on expanded roles in some aspects of this collaboration, the department's game wardens will continue to protect Vermont's natural resources and be available as back up for all other law enforcement officers. We are all very proud to be part of this team effort."

 


ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S 10-POINT PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION PLAN

On August 17, Governor Scott issued a 10-point public safety enhancement and violence prevention action plan, laying out the framework of a comprehensive response to address violent crime and other public safety concerns across the state. Click here for more information.



MEDIA CONTACTS

Members of the media may request interviews by emailing the following contacts at each agency and department:

 

 

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August 15, 2022

Department of Public Safety announces SurviVermont session in Chittenden County

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Department of Public Safety announces SurviVermont session in Chittenden County

 

COLCHESTER, Vermont (Monday, Aug. 15, 2022) — The Vermont Department of Public Safety will host a SurviVermont session this week in Chittenden County.

 

The 90-minute session is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at Colchester High School, 131 Laker Lane. There are 50 seats available, and pre-registration is required. Sign-ups are available online on a first-come, first-served basis by visiting this direct link to the sign-up form. An overview of the full SurviVermont initiative, with details and registration links for future sessions, is available on the Vermont Emergency Management website: https://bit.ly/SurviVermont.

 

Supported by a grant from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, SurviVermont combines three easy-to-remember concepts from established federal public safety programs: See Something, Say Something; Run, Hide and Fight; and Stop the Bleed.

 

 

***Update No. 1, 11:10 a.m. Friday, July 29, 2022***

Additional SurviVermont sessions have been added throughout Vermont.

 

Links to registration for specific sessions can be found at: https://vem.vermont.gov/news/new-trainings-related-active-shooter-and-violent-threat-situations

 

August 1 - Royalton: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police Royalton Barracks. Maximum registration reached - sign up has closed.  Only those with registration confirmations may attend.

 

August 3 - Arlington: 6-7:30 p.m., Arlington Memorial High School, 529 E. Arlington Rd., Arlington.

 

August 8 - St. Albans: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police St. Albans Barracks, 140 Fisher Pond Rd., St Albans City.

 

August 10 - Rutland:  6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks, 124 State Place, Rutland.

 

August 15 - Derby: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police Derby Barracks, 35 Crawford Rd., Derby.

 

August 22 - New Haven: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks, 2490 Ethan Allen Highway, New Haven.

 

August 24 - Westminster: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks, 1330 Westminster Heights Rd., Westminster.

 

August 29 - Berlin: 6-7:30 p.m., Berlin National Guard Armory, 363 Fisher Rd., Berlin.

 

August 30 - St. Johnsbury: 6-7:30 p.m., Good Shephard Catholic School, 121 Maple St., St. Johnsbury.

 

*Chittenden County – TBA*

 

 

***Initial news release, 10 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2022***

Vermont’s Department of Public Safety announces a new public safety initiative, called SURVIVERMONT. This program is a community caretaking initiative created to educate and empower Vermonters with actions they can take to protect themselves and family members if they are confronted with an active shooter or violent threat situation.

 

Supported by a grant from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, SURVIVERMONT combines three easy-to-remember concepts from established federal public safety programs: See Something, Say Something; Run, Hide and Fight; and Stop the Bleed.

 

This program is a partnership between Vermont Emergency Management and first responder communities throughout the state.

 

The first two dates and times for this community caretaking initiative are:

  • Monday, Aug. 1: 6-7:30 p.m., Vermont State Police Royalton Barracks, 2011 Vermont Route 107 in Bethel. 25 seats available. Click here to sign up online.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 3: 6-7:30 p.m., Arlington Memorial High School, 529 E. Arlington Rd. in Arlington. 100 seats available. Click here to sign up online.

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT

To request an interview regarding this new public safety initiative, email Adam Silverman, the Vermont State Police public information officer, at adam.silverman@vermont.gov.

 

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