The police chief of Burlington, Vermont, the state’s largest city, has resigned following the public revelation that he used an anonymous Twitter account to heckle a critic. Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the resignation on Monday, stating that Chief Brandon del Pozo submitted his resignation on Sunday night. The Mayor accepted the decision with sadness, according to Fox Business reporting.
Weinberger acknowledged del Pozo’s contributions, stating, “While I believe that Chief del Pozo has been truly an outstanding chief and while it was clear to me that despite his mistakes he continued to have considerable support within the city council, the police department, the police commission and the commission… It was also clear that if he continued to serve the days ahead would be very challenging for him, his family, the department and the city.”
The controversy began when it was discovered that del Pozo used an anonymous Twitter account to engage with a critic for approximately one hour on July 4th before deleting the account. Initially, he denied the allegations to a reporter from Seven Days newspaper in July. However, he later confessed to the mayor. Following the confession, Weinberger placed del Pozo on administrative leave, instructing him to surrender his badge, gun, and city phone, and to cease all social media activity. Del Pozo then took six weeks of medical leave to seek mental health treatment, returning to service in September.
Some have criticized the mayor for not informing the city council and the public sooner. Weinberger explained that city officials quickly learned of del Pozo’s underlying mental health condition and were attempting to protect his medical privacy. Weinberger also issued an apology from the city to Charles Winkleman, the individual targeted by del Pozo’s online behavior.
Del Pozo, who was appointed chief in 2015, had previously been involved in a bicycle accident in 2018, resulting in three skull fractures, two brain bleeds, and a concussion.
In his resignation letter, del Pozo highlighted the city’s progress in combating the opioid crisis, noting a 50% reduction in overdose deaths in 2018, which was sustained into 2019. He also mentioned closing the gap in racial disparities and lowering violent crime rates. Weinberger read excerpts from the letter during the press conference.
It was such an honor and a privilege to be our city’s Chief of Police. I’m looking forward to future opportunities to serve, and happy and healthy times with my family. pic.twitter.com/ws6KqkgcCu — Brandon del Pozo (@BrandondelPozo) December 16, 2019
City Council President Kurt Wright described the situation as “a sad day for Burlington and for the chief.” He also stated that the city council needs more information regarding the mayor’s handling of the situation. “If I was asked, I was not, I would have just cautioned to get the information to the council as soon as possible, to get the information to the police commission as soon as possible and to get this information out to the public as soon as possible,” he said.
Police misconduct erodes public trust and can have serious consequences for both the officer involved and the community they serve. This incident highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement.
Social media use by law enforcement officials is increasingly scrutinized, with many departments developing policies to govern online behavior. The del Pozo case serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls of anonymous online activity, especially for those in positions of public trust. Leadership fundamentals are key to maintaining integrity within police departments.
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