ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont police departments have joined forces to give back in a Caledonia County town in need. It comes on the heels of a shooting that left a St. Johnsbury police captain seriously injured.
Now, police from across the state are working to help the community and the department heal.
“We have to be out here watching out for each other,” Norwich Police Chief Matthew Romei said as he clocked in for a shift in a different town. “It’s a very small community… It’s a small community of law enforcement and an even smaller community of chiefs.”
To allow officers in St. Johnsbury to spend time with their families, Romei and officers from 15 different departments around Vermont are picking up holiday shifts.
It comes just over a week after St. Johnsbury Police Capt. Jason Gray was shot and wounded while responding to a domestic violence call.
“This holiday season is traditionally a time to spend with loved ones. For many of the St. Johnsbury officers this tragedy in particular has made it even more essential. Allowing them the chance to reconnect with their families, recharge, ensures that they have the opportunity to continue their vital work,” Windsor Police Chief Jennifer Frank said.
Frank spearheaded the effort. She said when the call for help went out last week, agencies didn’t hesitate to get involved.
“We recognize in law enforcement the importance of officer wellness and needing to have that time to reflect on what has occurred, to work through some of those emotional challenges… And for officers to come together to support not only the St. J community but the St. J PD,” Frank said.
Gray was released from the hospital last week and is recovering at home. He told WCAX News he still has a long way to go but is grateful for the support from the community.
St. Johnsbury Town Manager Chad Whitehead said that support has gone a long way.
“I think it angered a lot of people but at the same time, people really came together in support of the police department. And it’s good for our officers to see that our community does support their police department,” Whitehead said.
Frank hopes this coverage plan could serve as a model for other departments to use in the future.
“Vermont law enforcement officers have jurisdictions across the state,” she said, “and that makes us uniquely set up to handle crises such as this.”