January 6, 2021 was marked to be a solemn and sacred process to support our system of representative government. Instead, we all witnessed lawless, violent disruption of this process in our nation’s capitol. All those involved in these criminal incidents should be held accountable for their actions.

At UVM Police Services we are sworn to protect and serve our community and the institutions that allow all of us to function and live as citizens. We strive always to earn the trust of all members of our community as we work to protect public safety fairly and impartially respond to critical incidents.

Our UVM Police team is using this dangerous assault on our American ideals as a time for reflection and for assessment of our own practices. We at UVM Police want members of our community to trust that we have their backs and will keep them safe.

Tim Bilodeau
Chief of Police

As the prevalence of COVID-19 begins to have a direct impact on our community, UVM Police Services is taking the appropriate health precautions as recommended by the CDC. These precautions mitigate the risk of exposure both to our staff and to the general public, but it should be noted that they are only modifications to our active operations. We will continue to be staffed 24/7 and provide around-the-clock response to the needs of our community.

Under the following guidance, our building will remain staffed and our members will still respond to calls. Major case investigations – such as crimes in progress and motor vehicle crashes with injuries – will be conducted in person, while minor cases – minor motor vehicle crashes, thefts, vandalisms, &c. – may be handled by our staff remotely. Response decisions will be made in consultation with supervisors on a case-by-case basis. If indicated, our staff may use personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of their response.

Temporary changes to our operations due to COVID-19:

• Visitors will be restricted to our lobby.
• Our staff is required to social distance themselves to 6-feet during normal interactions.
• We are encouraging the community to contact us via phone or by email
  • If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911.
  • If you would like to speak to a staff member or make a report, call our direct line at (802) 656-3473
  • Our staff directory is available online via this link: https://www.uvm.edu/police/uvm-police-services-staff-directory

While these are unprecedented times, UVM Police will always be here to help. It can be challenging to manage the uncertainty, the staggering amount of information and determining which to trust, the social isolation in situations such as this. In such times, we must stick together as a community (even from a distance) to help those in need. Whether that means minimizing your time in public to protect those who are immunocompromised, ordering take-out from your favorite restaurant to support those who aren’t fortunate enough to be able to work from home, or sending messages of support to those who you know are struggling, please do as much as you can. At the same time, it’s okay to hunker down and try to live your lives as normally as possible while minimizing your media intake.

These changes to our daily life might be uncomfortable or upsetting, but this is not forever; we will get through this! In the meantime, we’re only a phone call away.