Vermont Criminal Justice Council briefs Senate on training overhaul, new code of conduct and certification tiers

Montpelier — Representatives of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council told the Senate Government Operations Committee on Jan. 30 that the council has completed a multi-year rulemaking effort, adopted a law-enforcement code of conduct and is pursuing a phased overhaul of training curriculum, certification tiers and impaired-driving instruction.

The update came during a roughly 30-minute briefing to the committee by Christopher Bridal, deputy director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC), who described changes the council approved in 2024 and January 2025 and outlined ongoing projects including a curriculum rewrite, a new entry-level “level 1” certification, and a planned officer wellness program.

Bridal said the VCJC — reconstituted in 2020 as a 24-member body that includes traditional law-enforcement seats and new stakeholder seats — “promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the public in the way of providing training to law enforcement.” He told senators the council has statutory authority to adopt rules approving training schools and off-site programs, to set instructor qualifications and to define the content and application of the new law-enforcement officers code of conduct.

Why it matters: The council oversees the Vermont Police Academy, which provides the only state certification for law-enforcement officers in Vermont. Changes to academy curriculum, certification rules and public-facing conduct standards affect all state, county and municipal law-enforcement personnel and how agencies coordinate during incidents.

Major items discussed

Code…