A special legislative committee recommended Tuesday not to impeach a Vermont sheriff who was charged with assault for kicking a shackled prisoner, but said the sheriff was being penalized by remaining in office. Stated.
A resolution to be introduced in the House by committee members on Wednesday calls on Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore to resign “in the interest of the people of Franklin County.”
“While the committee does not recommend articles of impeachment against Sheriff Grismore, it has made clear that it would be a disservice to the residents of Franklin County for Sheriff Grismore to remain in office,” House Speaker Jill Kroynski said in a statement. said. “The committee heard from numerous individuals and the report presents a list of concerning conduct that is completely unacceptable for an elected official, but does not meet the high standards for impeachment.”
Vermont sheriff faces pressure to resign after allegedly kicking handcuffed prisoner
Grismore did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. He told WCAX-TV that his recommendation not to pursue articles of impeachment is proof of what he knew all along.
Grismore was elected sheriff in November 2022, months after he was fired as a sheriff’s department captain for kicking a shackled inmate. He has pleaded not guilty to the simple assault charge.
John Grismore, a candidate for sheriff in Franklin County, Vermont, poses for a photo in St. Albans, Vermont on October 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Wilson Ring, File)
Grismore is the only candidate on the ballot after fielding both Republican and Democratic candidates in the Aug. 9, 2022, primary. Shortly before he took office in February 2023, state police announced they were investigating the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and Grismore’s finances.
In December, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council found that he violated the state’s use-of-force policy and permanently disqualified him from law enforcement, meaning he will never be able to practice law in Vermont. It was decided that it could not be done. A special legislative committee was established last May to investigate possible impeachment.
In a report released Tuesday, the commission said it is important that sheriffs are able to perform their law enforcement duties and that they must receive ongoing law enforcement training not available to disqualified officers. He said he thinks there is. He also said he believes sheriffs should demonstrate and maintain “the highest standards of integrity, integrity, conduct and service.”
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“Mr. Grismore has shown neither through his actions before taking office nor through his continued assertions that his use of force was appropriate,” the committee said.
