The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 20 : Internal Security and Public Safety

Chapter 151 : Vermont Criminal Justice Council

Subchapter 001 : GENERAL PROVISIONS

• § 2371. Statewide policy; Law Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct [Effective January 1, 2025]

  (a) Creation and modification of Code. The Council shall create, implement, and modify by rule a statewide policy known as the Law Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct or Code. This Code effectuates the principle that law enforcement officers serve the communities of Vermont and protect all persons against illegal acts in a manner consistent with the high degree of responsibility and respect for human dignity required by the profession.

  (b) Application. Each law enforcement officer, as a condition for obtaining and maintaining certification, shall comply with the provisions of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct.

  (c) Code contents. The Law Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct shall prohibit the following categories of conduct:

  (1) criminal conduct, including conduct defined as “Category A conduct” in section 2401 of this title;

  (2) untruthfulness, including in the course of criminal investigations, in law enforcement agencies’ internal affairs investigations, in Council investigations, in matters before a tribunal, and in the preparation administration, or taking of any official examination conducted by a law enforcement agency of the Council;

  (3) misuse of official position, including:

  (A) sexual misconduct and harassment;

  (B) misuse of property and evidence;

  (C) solicitation, taking, and giving of bribes; and

  (D) use of electronic criminal records database for personal, political, or economic gain;

  (4) discrimination and biased enforcement;

  (5) unlawful use of force while on duty or under the authority of the State, pursuant to section 2368 of this title, including failure to intervene and report to a supervisor observation of unlawful use of force by another law enforcement officer; and

  (6) domestic violence, while on duty or off duty, including attempting to cause or causing physical harm to a family or household member, or placing a family or household member in fear of imminent serious physical harm, or violating the Domestic Violence Involving Law Enforcement Model Policy adopted pursuant to section 2365 of this title.

  (d) Supplemental professional conduct policies.

  (1) To the extent any provisions of this section or the adopted Code conflicts with the provisions of any law enforcement agency’s own policies, the provisions of this chapter and the adopted Code shall prevail.

  (2) A law enforcement agency may adopt additional professional conduct policies, provided that these are not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter or the adopted Code. (Added 2023, No. 124 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. January 1, 2025.)