State police brief Tunbridge on staffing, community response and embedded social worker

A Vermont State Police representative updated the selectboard on barracks staffing, community policing goals and interagency collaboration, and introduced an embedded social-worker role that supports crisis response. The official said staffing has improved since the low point but remains below full strength.

The presenter described efforts to redirect some mental-health-related calls toward specialized resources and away from enforcement-only responses. "We have a good core group of younger troopers that are very excited to get out there and, like, actually do police work," the agency official said, noting the department's interest in training and partnerships to reduce calls that require enforcement. The official also described limits on some enforcement actions and emphasized attention to public safety.

Cora, a social worker who works with the barracks, told the board she focuses on rapport-building and connecting people in crisis to local mental-health agencies and crisis teams. "I do a lot of different things," Cora said, explaining that her role ranges from immediate crisis support to longer-term referrals and coordination with local agencies. Board members asked how smaller towns could call on those services and how the selectboard could support tabletop exercises and training efforts.