BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A Vermont police officer has resigned from two departments and the Vermont Criminal Justice Council after racially disparaging comments he made were caught on microphone at a meeting of the council Wednesday.
“You’re {Expletive} here illegally and you’re worried about being safe. Oh yeah, unreal,” said Mike Major Wednesday during testimony from the group Migrant Justice regarding changes to the state’s fair and impartial policing policy — which the council did not vote on.
“If he felt that way, I’m glad we found out and he’s no longer a cop in Bristol. I’m sure it will be uphill sledding for him to get employment with another law enforcement entity in the state,” said VCJC Chair Bill Sorrell.
Major apologized after making the comments, saying he did not mean for them to be heard by the council or the public, and that he was talking to his daughter as an aside.
Major was hired in Bristol as a part-time patrol officer in 2020 and has now resigned following the hot mic moment. He also reigned Thursday from the Chittenden County Sherriff’s Department, where he served as a sheriff’s deputy, working at the courthouse.
Sorrell says he was appalled by Major’s comments and that fair and impartial policing remains a focus for the council. “It’s what’s expected and for those that perform otherwise, that will be addressed and addressed aggressively, and they won’t be cops anymore,” he said.
Sorrell did not specify whether the council would take action against Major for his comments but he is no longer serving in his role.
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