State troopers patrol Burlington streets

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - For the first time in memory, Burlington’s downtown was blanketed by state troopers Saturday night.

The troopers were called in to back up and assist the short-staffed Burlington Police.

The troopers are part of the state police “Critical Action Team.” They worked on foot patrol, as extra eyes and ears following Saturday morning’s double-shooting downtown. Two men were wounded by an unknown assailant and treated at the UVM Medical Center.

The troopers were requested as a weekend backup by Burlington Acting Police Chief Jon Murad.

“We have troopers from throughout the state who are assigned to our various special teams, as well as our detective bureaus, and you know, this their job, so they are here to do that job in addition to the 10 troopers, most of whom would otherwise have been off-shift, who were coming into town to help out BPD,” said Adam Silverman, a spokesperson for the Vermont State Police. “If there are future needs for assistance from Burlington, then they will make those and we will evaluate them on a case by case basis.”

The troopers did not respond to routine calls or enforce minor infractions.

Since this was an assist-- like anytime state police are called in to help local departments-- the money to pay the troopers will come out of the Vermont State Police budget.

Related Story:

Two people injured following early morning shooting in Burlington

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