Police improve response to rising number of mental health calls

Middlebury police have seen the number of calls requesting mental health-related help rise from 54 in 2018 to 259 in 2021.

VERGENNES/BRISTOL/BRANDON — Police in Vergennes, Bristol and Brandon are seeking help from the public in providing information about two recent attempted break-ins into pharmacies and one burglary at Kinney Drug Store in Vergennes in which police said thi … (read more)

Should Vergennes form a community panel to help city officials oversee and work with the police department? For the second time in 17 months the local committee charged with studying the question said “yes.”

Officials from three county law enforcement agencies stood by this morning at Mount Abraham Union High School, which was on full alert after some students had threatened to bring weapons to school following a school ban on flag-related attire.

VERGENNES — For the past few months a rebuilt Vergennes Citizen Review Board Exploratory Committee has been researching options for a possible citizen police advisory panel to present to the Vergennes City Council. On Feb. 23 that study committee’s chair, … (read more)

Article in Addison Independent, Jan. 14: “MIDDLEBURY — Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton is seeking community support in raising $1.5 million to transform his organization into a one-stop shop for law enforcement and community services ranging from jump … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Folks walking past the Middlebury police station off Seymour Street during the night of Jan. 12-13 caught an unusual and disturbing sight. A woman camped out in a snow bank, just a few feet away from warmth, nourishment and companionship. It’ … (read more)

VERGENNES — Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel — along with a dozen area nonprofits and state agencies — is working on bringing to northern Addison County a collaborative effort among social services and police that Merkel and others believe will better … (read more)

I was relieved to notice a sign outside Greg’s Meat Market encouraging us to “Support Your Local Police.” It was indeed nicely planted and well watched. I’ll admit — at first I didn’t get it at all. “Support Your Local Police?” I imagined an implicit thre … (read more)

VERGENNES — After a couple of fits and starts and a split vote, the Vergennes City Council on Nov. 10 filled out the ranks — plus one — of the committee that’s exploring whether the city should create a citizen review panel to help oversee and/or work wit … (read more)

VERGENNES — After a couple fits and starts and a split vote, the Vergennes City Council on Tuesday filled out the ranks — plus one — of the committee that is exploring whether the city should create a citizen review panel to help oversee and/or work with … (read more)

VERGENNES — The three remaining members of the committee charged with studying whether Vergennes should establish a civilian police oversight panel are not sure they can complete their mission or how much backing they have from city officials. But Vergenn … (read more)

ORWELL — Six loose cows appear to have been shot and killed Friday night in Orwell, according to a press release issued by Vermont State Police Saturday. The cows had been running wild most of the summer and fall, said Brian Kemp, who owns Mountain Meadow … (read more)

VERGENNES — An analysis of more than 10,000 traffic stops conducted by Vergennes police between 2015 and 2019 shows that Black, Asian and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be stopped and ticketed, while Black and Hispanic drivers were more likely to be … (read more)

We have written previously about the racist history of policing in our country and how police are doing exactly what they were created to do: protecting property over human lives. It might feel good to tell ourselves that Middlebury is different, but the … (read more)