John Grismore stripped of police duties, still Franklin County Sheriff

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Criminal Justice Council voted 15-1 on Wednesday to strip Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore of his law enforcement certification. While this means he can no longer serve as a police officer, he will continue to be the Franklin County sheriff. The Legislature would need to impeach him in order for him to be removed from office. The council found that he violated the use of force policy and charged with simple assault in a case against a prisoner in August 2022. Despite those charges, Grismore was elected sheriff in November 2022.

Vermont Criminal Justice Council 

Sheriff John Grismore Contested Hearing 

Vermont Police Academy

Pittsford, Vermont

December 6, 2023 

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council met for the second day of testimony today, regarding the contested hearing of Sheriff John Grismore, Sheriff of Franklin County. The Council first took testimony on November 14, 2023, and was continued today to allow for witness testimony. 

The hearing was held as a formal contested case hearing under the Vermont Administrative Procedure Act and was held to consider the imposition of sanctions, up to and including permanent revocation, against the Vermont law enforcement officer certification held by John Grismore for alleged unprofessional conduct pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2401(1)(B) (Category A conduct misdemeanor, simple assault, committed while on duty), 20 V.S.A. § 2401(2)(c) (Category B gross professional misconduct, violation of use of force policy), 20 V.S.A. § 2404(a)(1)(A) (agency investigation of Category A or B conduct), 20 V.S.A. § 2405 (Council sanction procedure), 20 V.S.A. § 2406(a) (permitted Council sanctions) and 20 V.S.A. § 2407 (Limitation on Council sanctions). 

The Council hearing began on November 14, 2023 with the Council’s staff attorney presenting the evidence specific only to the alleged Category B violation of the State’s Use of Force policy. The Category A violation was not presented to the Council so as not to interfere with Sheriff Grismore’s ongoing litigation in Vermont Superior Court.

At the conclusion of today’s testimony of defense expert witness, the Council went into executive session to deliberate the testimony. At the conclusion of deliberation, the Council met in public session where there was a motion made and seconded, for a finding of a violation of the State of Vermont’s Use of Force policy. This specific policy violation is actionable by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council on a first offense. The Council vote found the violation of policy occurred by a vote of 16 – 0. A second vote, relative to possible sanctions allowed by the Council returned a vote of permanent revocation of Vermont Law Enforcement Certification by a vote of 15 in favor, 1 opposed. 

The sanction will be imposed after 10 business days of the Council’s decision, allowing for an officer to voluntarily surrender their certification related to the Council’s unprofessional conduct findings.