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Internal Affairs

Filing a Complaint or Compliment

For your convenience the Vermont State Police has three options for citizens or visitors to file a compliment/complaint with our department. Regardless of the option you choose your compliment/complaint will be treated with the same high level of professionalism.

Each complaint or compliment, at a minimum, should include the following information, as possible:

  • Full Name
  • Home and work phone numbers so that we may contact you later.
  • Date, time, and location of the incident.
  • Name(s) of the Vermont State Police member(s) involved.
  • The vehicle the Trooper(s) was driving (if applicable).
  • Names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the incident.
  • Explain in as much detail as possible what happened.
Submit Online

You may submit information regarding your compliment/complaint using our on-line compliment/complaint forum. You can access this by clicking here: Submit Compliment/Complaint On-Line

Submit by E-Mail

Your complaints are important to us and we appreciate you taking the time to communicate with us. The e-mail should be sent to the Vermont State Police Internal Affairs Unit at IAComplaint@state.vt.us.

. In the subject line type "Compliment/Complaint Regarding a State Police Officer". In the message area please enter the following information about you:

  • Your full name
  • Home and work phone numbers so that we may contact you.
  • Also in the message area please supply the following information about the State Police member(s) involved in the event and the vehicle they were driving (if known): Trooper's name
  • Any other information you have that will help us identify the Trooper involved.
  • A brief description of the event that you want to tell us about.
Submit to Barracks

You may file a verbal or written compliment/complaint with any Station Commander of the Vermont State Police. Visit our Stations page to find contact information for the Station Commander for towns that we cover.

Complaint Investigative Process

If you feel you have been mistreated by a member of the Vermont State Police, we expect that you will inform us of the incident.

The citizens and visitors of the State of Vermont have an expectation that the conduct of those who have the responsibility of enforcing the laws of the state are held to the highest standards. It is the Office of Internal Affairs' mission to assure that Vermont State Troopers uphold the expected conduct standards. This will ensure the preservation of the trust of the citizens we serve.

Once your complaint is received by the Internal Affairs Unit, the following will occur:

  • You will be contacted by the investigator.
  • The investigator will examine any physical evidence.
  • Reports/Records pertaining to the case will be reviewed.
  • The investigator will write a report documenting his or her findings in the case. This report is reviewed by the member's chain of command.
  • You, as the complainant, will receive a letter stating either that the charges of misconduct were proved or that they weren't proved. The results of the investigation will be reported to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and to the State Police Advisory Commission.
  • By statute (20 V.S.A. Sec. 1923(d)(3)) the results of internal investigations are to remain confidential with only the State Police Advisory Commission having permission to report such results to the public if it deems it appropriate to do so.

State Police Advisory Commission (SPAC)

All allegations of misconduct by State Police officers are given to the State Police Advisory Commission for review. By statute, SPAC is made up of independent Vermont citizens who have no connection to the Vermont State Police. The State Police Advisory Commission provides advice and counsel to the Commissioner of Public Safety in carrying out his or her responsibilities for the management, supervision and control of the Vermont State Police. The Commission also advises the Commissioner regarding rules concerning promotions, grievances, transfers, internal investigations and discipline.

Vermont Human Rights Commission

It is illegal in Vermont to discriminate because of a person's race, color, age, disability, ancestry, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, minor children or receipt of public assistance. If a citizen or visitor feels that a member of the Vermont State Police has violated their civil rights the citizen or visitor has the right to file a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.