The Burlington City Council voted Monday night, Jan. 27 along party lines to eliminate a previously imposed limit on the number of police officers, according to a Seven Days news report.

The decision was driven by concerns about low staffing levels and morale within the department. While proponents believe removing the 87-officer cap will improve recruitment, opponents argue this is a symbolic gesture unlikely to solve the underlying hiring challenges. 

The vote was split along party lines, with five Progressives voting against the measure, and five Democrats and one Independent voting in favor of removing the cap. The decision comes about a month after outgoing Police Chief Jon Murad recommended the city return to a 105-officer roster, the maximum size before a 2020 vote reduced the department’s size through attrition.

The council’s action, which received support from one independent member, effectively removes an artificial limit on police force size, instead allowing budgetary considerations and hiring success to determine the department’s ultimate headcount. This debate reflects a long-standing political struggle over public safety resources in Burlington, which came to a head in 2020 during the heyday of the ‘defund the police’ movement.