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Vermont State Police warn Tunbridge of staffing shortfall, limit on town contracts
Summary
Trooper Austin Soule told the Tunbridge Selectboard the Vermont State Police are down about 40–45 troopers statewide (roughly 320 remain), curbing proactive traffic enforcement; Soule said VSP cannot offer contracts to towns now but might in future, and raised questions about animal-control jurisdiction.
Trooper Austin Soule of the Vermont State Police briefed the Town of Tunbridge Selectboard on current staffing and local enforcement capacity. He said the state is "down 40–45 troopers" and that there are only about 320 troopers statewide, a shortfall he described as limiting the department's ability to resume a proactive traffic-stop program launched last year.
Soule told the Selectboard the Royalton barracks has newer officers who may enable more proactive patrols when calls allow, but he said the VSP cannot offer contracts with towns at this time and "may be able to in the future." He also raised a procedural question about animal-control complaints, noting uncertainty whether such complaints from Tunbridge should be routed to Orange County or Windsor County authorities.
