The 12-person committee will evaluate candidates this summer in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington is embarking on the next phase of its search for a permanent Chief of Police with the formation of a hiring committee to evaluate several candidates recruited with support from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
“The next Chief of Police will play a vital role in continuing the Burlington Police Department's ongoing rebuilding efforts, strengthening public trust, and ensuring the department is well-positioned to meet Burlington’s evolving safety needs and in ways that embody our community’s values and priorities,” Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak said. “I look forward to the next phase of this process that moves us closer to selecting the leader who will help guide the department into its next chapter.”
The hiring committee has representatives from City government, City Council, the Police Commission, and the community. Its members include:
- Jen Monroe Zakaras, Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
- Kara Alnasrawi, Director of the Community and Economic Development Office
- Padric Hartnett, Patrol Officer at the Burlington Police Department and President of the Burlington Police Officers Association
- Colby Delaire, Technician at the Department of Public Works and President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1343
- Tiffanie Katsuva, Member of the City of Burlington’s Trusted Community Voices program
- Melo Grant, Central District City Councilor
- Buddy Singh, South District City Councilor
- Robert L. Depper III, Chair of the Burlington Police Commission
- Karen Paul, former City Council President and member of the Burlington Police Commission
- Shabnam Nolan, Executive Director of King Street Center
- Mark Bouchett, Homeport co-owner and Church Street Marketplace Commissioner
- Sandy McGuire, CEO at Howard Center
Fifteen applications were received during the posting period, which began on May 18, 2026, and ended on June 5, 2026. A first review by the IACP will narrow the applicant pool to five candidates; those candidates will then undergo a full assessment. The goal of the hiring committee is to narrow the pool to two candidates for interviews, which will be conducted in July and August.
Shawn Burke took on the role of Interim Chief of Police on March 24, 2025, following former Chief of Police Jon Murad’s resignation in March 2025.
“Chief Burke has been a true partner in building a strong community safety response that meets our community’s needs while also supporting our officers,” said Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. “I deeply appreciate his steady leadership and service to our city during this transition period while we have conducted a rigorous search for our next Police Chief.”
The IACP supported Burlington’s recruitment process, guided by the needs and values of Burlington residents and the Burlington Police Department. The association conducted site visits and community engagement beginning in June 2025. This included meetings with sixteen key Burlington stakeholders from the Mayor’s Office, the Police Department, City Councilors, and City government leaders. The IACP conducted four focus groups with local organizations from the following areas: faith and clergy; youth services, family, children and legal aid; organizations supporting immigrant rights; and racial equity, inclusion and belonging. The IACP also conducted an online survey of the community from November 1, 2025, to December 12, 2025, that was offered in ten languages (English, French, Spanish, Maay Maay, Vietnamese, Swahili, Nepali, Kirundi, Burmese, and Arabic) and probed the qualities community members would most like to see in the next Police Chief. The survey received 603 responses. Results from the survey, stakeholder meetings, site visits, and focus groups were used to develop a candidate profile and recruitment brochure, which the IACP helped promote through the IACP national listserv, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the New England Association of Chiefs of Police (NEACOP), and state-specific organizations.
The Mulvaney-Stanak administration will provide updates on the Chief of Police hiring process, including findings from the IACP’s community engagement, at the Burlington City Council meeting on July 13.
About the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): The IACP is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders and is committed to advancing the safety of communities worldwide. The association identifies highly qualified leaders and executives whose management style and knowledge of policing are consistent with the priorities of the clients and the community they serve.
7.6.2026 Office of Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak