MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont Criminal Justice Council is under new leadership.
William Clements, a former Norwich University criminal justice professor, has been appointed to chair the council and Christopher Brickell was named executive director.
The council is tasked with writing the rules, policies, and standards for police officers in the state.
Brickell says the council’s current focus is recruiting and retaining officers at police departments throughout the state. “They’re really the ones that are struggling the most, just in fulfilling the ranks and fulfilling their –not obligation — but their endeavor to work collaboratively with us to make sure that we can deliver training that suits their needs,” he said.
The council is currently working to rewrite the curriculum at the Vermont Police Academy with evidence-based practices. That could be rolled out by January 2027.