Burlington has tapped South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke to serve as the city’s interim police chief, according to press releases from both municipalities Wednesday.
For Burke, the move represents a return to a police department where he worked for more than two decades before joining the South Burlington police force.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak stated in a press release that she was “exceedingly grateful” Burke would be returning to the city’s police department to serve as its interim chief.
“Chief Burke served most of his career here in the City of Burlington, he knows our Department well, and under his leadership I am confident that we can continue to build a Department that is responsive to our community’s needs,” Mulvaney-Stanak added.
Burke has submitted his resignation as South Burlington police chief, effective March 21, according to a separate press release from the city of South Burlington.
“I’m proud that we can support our neighbors in the City of Burlington as they focus on their public safety and security practices,” South Burlington City Manager Jessie Baker stated in the release. “A strong and safe Burlington will benefit all of Chittenden County and the State of Vermont. I’m confident that Chief Burke is the leader who can guide them through this change.”
Burke joined the South Burlington Police Department in 2018, becoming chief in 2019 when Police Chief Trevor Whipple retired.
Before joining the South Burlington police force, Burke worked in the Burlington Police Department for 21 years, serving as the deputy chief of operations at the time that he left in 2018, the release stated.
Burlington, in its release, stated that outgoing Police Chief Jon Murad will “assist in the transition” before leaving the department “on or before” April 7.
Murad had announced in November his plans to step down from the post.
In South Burlington, the municipality will conduct a national search for its next police chief, the release stated, and, in the meantime, Deputy Chief Sean Briscoe will serve as acting police chief following Burke’s departure on March 21.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington names South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke as city’s interim police chief .