BRATTLEBORO-During their April 1 meeting, Selectboard members heard passionate appeals from the public regarding downtown crime and public safety issues, which accounted for more than $675,000 in unbudgeted expenses in the last fiscal year.
"Excuse my French, but people are shitting on my basement floor and breaking into our building," said Daniel Systo of Brattleboro. "I've found hypodermic needles, fentanyl, and heroin. I've cleaned up multiple times out back on Arch Street," he told Selectboard members.
Expressing urgency for quick action, Systo stated, "Something needs to happen tomorrow" to address the escalating public safety concerns in the town.
While the board agreed to focus on police services in upcoming budget discussions, Cristina Shayonye, of Brattleboro, urged board members to consider more than just policing when discussing public safety.
"We can't totally police our way to public safety," she said. "When people have nothing left to lose, they don't care if they're going to get arrested. We need people to have things to lose so they don't want to commit crimes and be arrested."
'There's always an officer downtown'
In 2024, downtown business and nonprofit leaders expressed frustration and outrage at conditions in town, particularly on Flat Street, where children walk to and from the Boys and Girls Club and the New England Youth Theatre.
At standing-room-only Selectboard meetings in the summer and fall, community members cited issues like public drug use, the presence of needles and drug paraphernalia, and aggressive panhandling, all contributing to a 16% increase in calls to the police from the prior year. They urged the town to enhance police patrols in the downtown area.
Identifying the situation as an emergency, the Selectboard voted to allocate more funds for the Downtown Safety Action Plan.
As part of the plan, in August, the Selectboard established the Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team (BRAT), aimed at providing street-level support and resources to address public safety concerns downtown.
In September, the Selectboard voted to create positions for three additional police officers and up to six support staff members for the BRAT.
BRAT staff do not carry weapons, wear traditional police uniforms, or have arrest powers but operate under the supervision of police officers.
In October, the Brattleboro Police Department (BPD) hired its first BRAT staff member, Justin Johnston, a community resource specialist who works alongside police officers to support substance abuse recovery in the community.
Additionally, in November, the Selectboard voted to establish a police substation at the transportation center on Flat Street.
In a recent interview with The Commons, Police Chief Norma Hardy praised her police force, now at 26, up from a low of 12 in 2021. She said hiring Johnston was one of her best decisions.
"Because of the services he offers and the trust he has built, we've been able to get many people to agree to seek help," she said.
BRAT includes two social workers from Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) who work to de-escalate situations before police intervention is required.
While BRAT is designated for downtown, other police officers also patrol the area. "There's always an officer downtown or near downtown," Hardy noted.
In an effort to adopt a more comprehensive approach to addressing crime and disorder in the community, senior leaders from various public health and safety organizations in the Brattleboro area came together last spring to form One Brattleboro.
Members include representatives from the Vermont Agency of Human Services, the Brattleboro Police and Fire Departments, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro Retreat, Groundworks Collaborative, and Health Care & Rehabilitation Services, among others. They meet monthly to identify and address gaps and needs related to public health and safety.
"Through this joint effort, we're able to reach people at pivotal moments, helping to break cycles of crisis and build pathways to stability," wrote George Karabakakis, CEO, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) in a recent letter to The Commons.
Is Brattleboro safer?
While it is uncertain how the revised budget will impact policing services in the coming year, the town has seen an increased police presence since the fall.
"I feel safer," said Nicole Chase, owner of Twice Upon A Time on Main Street. "I feel like the town has my back."
Lisa Ford, board chair of the Boys & Girls Club on Flat Street, has also noticed a difference and feels more comfortable seeing more police and knowing they are patrolling the area.
"I'm looking forward to having the police substation near the Boys & Girls Club, which will provide round-the-clock security downtown," she added.
Danny Lichtenfeld, director of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, said in an email to The Commons that "over the past few months, we've definitely seen a reduction in the amount of dangerous or threatening behavior in the vicinity of the museum, but it's hard to know if that's the result of increased police presence or because it's been winter and fewer people have been on the streets."
"I can say with assurance that the BRAT officers have been friendly and responsive to our questions," Lichtenfeld said. "We definitely appreciate having them around."
"It's definitely been better, but the real test will be when the weather warms up," said Mike Cota, owner of several properties in town, including the American Building on Main Street. "I have a good feeling we are on the right track!"
Seeking to balance her compassion for those in need with frustration, Monique Duffy, managing director of the New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) on Flat Street, said "we can care about folks and want to help while not wanting to pick up needles every summer morning."
Duffy is cautiously optimistic about the increased visibility of police downtown.
"We appreciate that the police are giving us more attention," she said. However, she is waiting to see how the situation develops in the spring and summer, when disorder around the theater typically escalates.
She notes that some parents feel more comfortable allowing their children to walk from the high school to NEYT, but she recognizes that there hasn't yet been a significant change in their perceptions of safety.
Duffy expressed concern that increased policing on Flat Street might merely drive issues to other neighborhoods. "We would love to see a combination of programs to help people so that it's not just shifting the problems around," she said.
Karen Zamojski, manager of Experienced Goods, a tenant in the Church Building on Flat Street, has observed a notable reduction in disruptive activities over the past six months.
At a meeting of the Selectboard last July, her partner, Gemma Champoli, described their daily ritual of removing needles from the front of the store.
Zamojski said that they have found only two needles near the store since summer.
"Since the police started concentrating on Flat Street, my staff has felt safer," she reported.
In addition to the increased police presence, she mentioned that the landlord's removal of a screening fence from the dumpsters in the parking lot has deterred "problematic behaviors" like drug use near the store.
While Zamojski does not feel personally fearful, she worries that donors and customers might stop supporting the store, which provides partial funding for Brattleboro Area Hospice through its revenues.
Reflecting on the situation involving substance use and homelessness in the community, she remarked, "I'm very sad that this whole situation is happening."
"We try to be as empathetic as possible," Zamojski explained, noting that although challenges persist, the store maintains a non-confrontational approach. Staff occasionally need to trespass individuals, but they prioritize respectful interactions.
"Sometimes, we can give folks clothing or shoes if they've got nothing on their feet," said Zamojski. "It has been very emotionally draining, and it was a tough situation before we started receiving some support."
Not everyone feels safer on Flat Street.
Staff members at Edward Jones, located next door to Experienced Goods, have not noticed much change over the past six months.
Because individuals frequently attempt to enter the business without permission, "We keep our door locked at all times," said Amy Kellon, the branch manager.
Kellon reported observing people receiving Narcan treatment for overdoses in the parking lot. She regularly contacts the police tip line to report suspicious activities.
Skye Morse, principal at M&S Development, which owns the DeWitt Block on Flat Street, praised the Brattleboro police force.
"In general, we are pleased with the increased police presence; however, the situation on Flat Street is still completely out of hand and unacceptable," Morse stated in an email to The Commons.
"Drug dealing, drug use, and general public disorder continue with seeming impunity," said Morse. "Our police officers do a great job of being responsive and compassionate. However, I know they're as frustrated as anyone else, if not more so.
"I think the new satellite police station will make a huge difference," he said.
A 'catch and release' policy
Kellon criticized the current judicial system's practice of releasing offenders back into the community while they await trial, often referred to as "catch and release."
While the courts may impose "conditions of release" such as curfews, restricted access to certain properties, and limitations on communication, individuals frequently violate these conditions, leading to repeated harmful behaviors.
"The police do what they're supposed to, but the court system just slaps them on the wrist," Kellon said, referring to a small number of people in the community who repeatedly cause public disorder.
Morse agrees.
"Until we make significant changes to our catch-and-release policy in the court system, we will all continue to deal with the same bad actors day in and day out," he said.
In an August interview with The Commons, State Sen. Nader Hashim, an attorney who chairs the Vermont Senate's Judiciary Committee, explained that repeat offenses - if they're misdemeanors - are not grounds for holding someone pretrial.
"Generally speaking, people are detained pretrial if they're being held on bail," said Hashim, one of two state senators representing Windham County.
"And the only reasons somebody can be held on bail are if they're a flight risk or if they've committed a violent felony, the weight of the evidence is great, and no combination of conditions of release will ensure the public safety," he said.
"Another circumstance is if they are charged with a crime that carries a potential for life imprisonment," Hashim said.
While Hashim acknowledged the public's frustration with the policies, he said, "Folks want to see more of a broad application for how we're handling pretrial detention. But we must still follow the Vermont and U.S. Constitutions and the Supreme Court cases that have created the rules."
Chief Hardy is also frustrated with the judicial system, noting that "violation of conditions of release" was among the top 10 criminal offenses her department dealt with in 2024.
She provided the example of a person damaging cars in Burlington and then moving to Brattleboro, where he continued his destructive behavior. But because he was not deemed a threat to public safety, the courts released him with conditions - which he repeatedly violated.
Eventually, he attacked one of her officers, she said.
Act 138, signed into law in 2024, is intended to reduce violations of conditions of release. The law aims to reduce repeat offenses and ensure that defendants appear in court by providing supervision and support - like substance abuse counseling and economic services - to those awaiting trial.
With $660,000 in funding, the program is being piloted in Essex and Orleans counties and plans to expand into Caledonia County.
Haley Sommer, director of communications and legislative affairs at the Vermont Department of Corrections, noted that while this funding facilitated the program's launch, additional resources are necessary to implement it statewide.
"The governor has requested an extra $650,000 in the FY26 budget to support this expansion," Sommer wrote in an email to The Commons. "If the Legislature approves this funding request, the program should be rolling out in the Brattleboro area by [this] fall or early spring 2026," she said.
A 'very lean budget' ahead
As the newly formed Selectboard begins to develop a new budget for fiscal year 2026, which starts on July 1, it faces the challenge of making potential cuts to public services to reduce the tax rate from the 12% increase that was voted down at the annual Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in March.
The progress that downtown residents and workers report could be immaterial if funds are unavailable to pay for the measures.
"We are looking at a very lean budget of services that we have in our town and make our town hum," said Selectboard Chair Elizabeth McLoughlin.
"We need to come to terms with all the things that RTM said and translate that into what services are integral to the workings of the town," she said. "And what services would be nice to have if we could afford them?"
Selectboard members agreed to hold seven budget-focused meetings, with the goal of delivering a budget to RTM at the end of May.
This News item by Ellen Pratt was written for The Commons.