The city of Burlington has begun a formal review of 15 candidates to become its next police chief, launching a selection process that will shape public safety priorities for the state’s largest city.
What residents should expect
A 12-person hiring committee is charged with vetting the semi-finalist pool and naming two finalists for the mayor’s consideration. The mayor, Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, is expected to make the final appointment in roughly two months, according to a city update on the process.
The new chief will oversee a department of about 60 sworn officers and just under 50 civilian staff, manage an annual police budget of $18.3 million, and direct public safety services for a residential population of roughly 44,000 and a broader metro population near 150,000, the International Association of Chiefs of Police brochure used in the search says.
Scope of the search and priorities
The candidate list grew out of a national search led by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which posted the position from May 18 to June 5. The city contracted IACP services in 2025 and the organization prepared a detailed brochure about the department and community to attract candidates.
City officials say priorities for the next chief include reducing crime, strengthening community engagement, and improving responses to mental health crises. Those priorities were highlighted by Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak during a July 13 City Council session updating the council on the search.
“I do think this is probably the most important department head hire that the mayor makes and needs full engagement by council and confidence by the community that we’re doing this right,”
Shawn Burke, the former South Burlington police chief, has served as interim chief since March 2025 after former Chief John Murad announced in 2024 he would not seek reappointment.
- Committee size: 12 members
- Semi-finalists: 15 candidates
- Finalists to be recommended: 2
- Final appointment: made by the mayor, timeline about two months
Department by the numbers
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sworn officers | ~60 |
| Civilian staff | ~50 |
| Annual budget | $18.3 million |
| City population | 44,000 |
| Metro population | 150,000 |
The search comes amid ongoing community conversations about the nature of policing in Burlington. City leaders have framed the appointment as a chance to find “a different kind of policing” for a municipality that includes two universities and major health care institutions, all factors that affect policing priorities and community expectations.
Council engagement and public confidence in the hiring process were emphasized by the mayor. City residents and stakeholders can expect additional public-facing steps as the committee narrows candidates and the mayor prepares a final selection, though the city has not published exact dates for public interviews or hearings.
As the process moves forward, the incoming chief will inherit responsibilities that range from patrol and investigations to civilian services and crisis response, with close scrutiny from elected officials, community groups and residents. The identity of the two finalists will be released by the committee when its review is complete and before the mayor’s final hire.
