A panel formed to review community policing practices in Burlington, Vermont, has recommended changes to the police department’s use-of-force policy, with a focus on de-escalating potential physical confrontations.
The 15-member committee, which released its report this month, also advises improving civilian oversight of police, Vermont Public Radio reported.
The City Council formed the panel in June following several interactions in which officers allegedly used excessive force. The City Council told the committee to focus on the police department’s use-of-force policy and the police commission.
Committee Chair Randall Harp told the council on Tuesday that the panel advises making de-escalation a priority in the use-of-force policy.
“And emphasize that officer behavior can escalate the level of force required and it sanctions officers that do so,” he said.
The committee recommended clarifying how the commission receives complaints about the department.
“The committee recommends that the police commission also have some oversight capacity of the chief, if that’s not already made explicit,” Harp said.
Former Chief Brandon del Pozo resigned in December over using a fake social media account to heckle a critic. His successor, Jan Wright, also used a fake Facebook account to engage citizens about police policy. She was demoted and is resigning.
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