Vermont Department of Public Safety outlines staffing shortfalls, grants work and emergency teams

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison told the House Judiciary Committee Friday that the department is operating with persistent vacancies among troopers, aging communications equipment and a heavy federal grants workload as it supports statewide law enforcement, emergency response and licensing functions.

Morrison said the Vermont State Police, the department’s largest division, "are authorized for approximately 330" sworn trooper positions but that the force is operating with dozens of vacancies. "If I add them to the headcount, we are roughly down 45 to 46 troopers," she said, and noted the department recently sent 17 recruits to pre-basic training.

The overview placed those shortages alongside the department’s broad responsibilities: statewide patrol and specialty teams, a forensic laboratory, radio infrastructure and emergency management. Morrison told lawmakers the department now includes divisions for Vermont State Police, the Vermont Crime Information Center, Radio Technology Services, Fire Safety, Vermont Emergency Management, a forensic laboratory and a newly created Division of Animal Welfare.

Why it matters: The Department of Public Safety…