law enforcement

End Qualified Immunity - Rally at Ben and Jerry's on Church Street 03/02/2022

Advocates, Legislators and Ben and Jerry's co-founders gather on Church Street demanding an end to qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in Vermont.

From VPIRG:

"Qualified immunity is an unjust legal doctrine that effectively closes the courtroom doors to victims of police abuses of power. Advocates, VT Legislators, and Ben & Jerry’s co-founders will be on Church Street demanding that the the Vermont Legislature pass legislation that would help restore victims’ access to justice. Among the list of speakers is Duane Peterson, a former police officer who co-founded the solar company SunCommon and currently serves as a member of VPIRG’s Board of Trustees."

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden District)
Rep. Selene Colburn (Chittenden-6-4)
Zoraya Hightower, Executive Director of the Peace & Justice Center and Burlington City Councilor
Mia Schultz, president of the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP
Kiah Morris, Executive Director, Rights and Democracy
Rev. Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
Duane Peterson, founder of SunCommon, former police officer, and VPIRG Board member
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and co-chair of the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and co-chair of the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity

Greater Burlington Women's Forum: Trailblazing - Women in Police, Fire, & Corrections 10/03/2018

Women in law enforcement, fire fighting, and corrections spend their days doing their best to keep our community safe. In this forum, women in these challenging careers will share their stories.

We'll hear about what drew them to choose their path, what it took to get there, and the effort and the rewards found in working in these strongly male-dominated fields. We'll learn about the compensation for doing this critical and often dangerous work, and the training and experience required.

With panelists Ingrid Jonas, a division commander (Major) in charge of the Support Services Division of the Vermont State Police; Raysa E Ortega, a former shift supervisor for the VT Department of Corrections; and Kathleen Lanphear, a firefighter with the Burlington Fire Department for 8 years.

True North Reports TV: 21st Century Policing 08/18/2017

Guest Host Michael Bielawski welcomes Vermont Watchdog Reporter Lou Varricchio to discuss recent instances of civil unrest and how law enforcement can best respond.

FOCUS: Dakota Pipeline and Geprag's Park Vermont Protests Unify 11/02/2016

Channel 17 host Margaret Harrington gets together with Kevin Kamps, of Beyond Nuclear, Jane Palmer, of Rising Tide, Vermont, and Dr. Rachel Smolker, of Protect Geprag's Park, to talk about the unification of the Dakota Oil Access Pipeline Protest with the Fracked Gas Pipeline Protest in Addison County, Vermont. The activists emphasize the main similarity, which is that corporate interests take precedence over the needs and wishes of the people and the environment. Elected officials and those running for office are noncommittal. President Obama states he will wait to see how the Dakota Pipeline plays out while 140 Native American protesters are arrested and caged by law enforcement officers from seven states. Meanwhile, the Bundy Clan, who took over federal land by armed violence, have been acquitted by a federal jury.

Senator Patrick Leahy: FBI Director Comey and Digital Investigation Center at Champlain College 04/24/2015

At the invitation of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey visits Vermont. Together, Leahy and Comey will tour the digital laboratory – the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation – at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Champlain College President Don Laackman will join Leahy and Comey on a tour, followed by a press conference.