In a press conference held at the Statehouse on Monday, the Vermont Sheriffs' Association called for the immediate resignation of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore. This move comes after the state criminal justice council permanently revoked Grismore's police certification due to a violation of the state's use-of-force policy.

During the press conference, Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson, the president of the Vermont Sheriffs' Association, emphasized the need for new leadership to restore public confidence and propel Franklin County forward. Sheriff Anderson stated, "Sheriff Grismore must put Franklin County's needs and the state of Vermont's needs before his own and step down immediately."

The call for resignation comes days after the Vermont Criminal Justice Council made the decision to permanently revoke Grismore's law enforcement certification. The council found that Grismore had violated the state's use-of-force policy by kicking a detained individual while serving as the second-in-command of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in August 2022. The revocation is expected to take effect in the coming week.

Seven out of the 14 sheriffs in Vermont voted during their annual winter conference last Friday to call for Grismore's resignation. The sheriffs attending the conference represented the counties of Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Orleans, Washington, Windham, and Windsor. Anderson revealed that the negative public perception of Grismore's actions has diminished confidence in the department, consequently impacting law enforcement's reputation across Vermont.

Despite the revocation of Grismore's police certification, his position as sheriff, which he was elected to in November 2022, remains unaffected. However, as sheriffs typically engage in policing responsibilities alongside their administrative duties, the loss of certification will likely have "impairing factors," as stated by Sheriff Anderson.

Grismore's resignation is just one of the challenges he currently faces. He also faces potential impeachment by the Legislature, an assault charge resulting from the aforementioned incident, and a Vermont State Police investigation regarding allegations of mishandling finances.

In response to the revocation of Grismore's police certification, Robert Kaplan, Grismore's attorney, expressed concern over the potential "chilling effect" this decision may have on law enforcement in Vermont. However, Sheriff Anderson, a member of the state criminal justice council, reassured that officers who adhere to their training and policies should have no reason to fear.

The Vermont Sheriffs' Association notified Grismore of their decision to call for his resignation on Monday morning, but as of the press conference, no response had been received. Later in the day, Grismore was scheduled to testify before the House committee conducting the impeachment inquiry, while Sheriff Anderson and Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux had already provided testimony to the committee.