(Burlington) The increase in gun violence in the United States has not spared Vermont, even though this small rural state is often recognized as one of the safest in the country.
During the Thanksgiving long weekend, which takes place at the end of November in the United States, three students of Palestinian origin were seriously injured by gunfire.
Two days later, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger called it “one of the most shocking and disturbing events in the history of this city.”
Across Vermont, 10 homicides and one suspicious death have occurred since October, including a double murder in Burlington. The municipality has also experienced 16 incidents of gunfire so far this year, according to its mayor, who added that this reality does not only affect large cities.
“There are several communities experiencing an alarming increase in gun violence,” said Mr. Weinberger. We saw shootings in Newport, Danville, St Johnsbury, Brattleboro, Castleton, Leicester and Brookfield. »
This increase in gun violence has also strained the Vermont State Police who, despite their lack of manpower, made arrests following two shootings.
The police force has a vacancy rate of 15% – with 51 unfilled positions – and a functional vacancy rate of around 25%, meaning that a number of people on family, military or other leave are not available, explained Vermont State Police Director Colonel Matthew Birmingham.
“So that puts us in a difficult position. We are doing more work – we receive more calls each year – with fewer staff,” he stressed.
Overall, the country saw a 6% decrease in gun homicides nationally between 2021 and 2022. However, Vermont saw a 185% jump, according to police Capt. Shawn Loan of the State of Vermont.
“We went from seven firearm deaths in 2021 to 20 in 2022,” he said.
About half of Vermont’s homicides involved a gun between 2017 and 2021, he said. Last year, this proportion increased to 86%.
Drugs also involved
While the student shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, many homicides in Vermont this fall are likely drug-related. They are also all isolated from each other, said Colonel Birmingham.
“Vermont has many drug problems. Fentanyl is a huge problem for this state and for the country,” said Mr. Birmingham.
“Our overdose death rate is increasing every year, which is a problem and should be on everyone’s radar. »
Statewide, Vermont’s homicide rate last year was about 3.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to 3.1 in Los Angeles and 2.3 in New York.
“We don’t have enough ambulances and we don’t have enough investigators working homicides, because we’re not designed to have such a high rate of violent crime. So it has a greater effect,” argued Captain Loan.
Retail theft and other crimes have also increased, causing some businesses to leave the city center.
A police force to rebuild
This increase in violence comes as the Burlington municipal police attempt to rebuild their numbers.
In 2020, the city council passed a resolution ordering the police force to reduce its maximum number of officers through attrition from 105 to 74. This came on the heels of the movement to “defund” the police due to racist acts committed by agents from across the United States.
But more than a year later, the municipal council authorized the police force to increase its staff to 87 people. However, then-acting police chief Jon Murad warned it would take years to rebuild his department.
As of November 15, Burlington had 69 sworn officers.
The City has added security guards to the Church Street Public Market to help passersby feel safe during the holiday season.
She also plans to host a community forum on public safety on Thursday and is planning another next week to discuss drug trafficking, gun crime, substance use and property crimes.
After the shooting of the Palestinian students, the suspect, Jason Eaton, 48, was arrested in his Burlington apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and is being held without bail.
Meanwhile, Vermont State Police are making progress investigating other shooting deaths, Birmingham said.
“I am convinced that we will make progress in each of them which will lead to resolutions in favor of the victims,” he promised.