By Kolby R. LaMarche
BTV CopWatch, a grassroots collective focused on monitoring police activity, has announced its return to the city’s streets after a long period of reduced activity.
Operating as a decentralized initiative, the group films police interactions to promote accountability and de-escalation. BTV CopWatch has, in the past, collaborated with local organizations like Food Not Bombs and Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington, emphasizing mutual aid, like free meals, and support for marginalized communities, including Queer/Trans/BIPOC groups.
Their work also includes documenting police actions for legal and media purposes, offering “copwatching training”, and adhering to anti-oppression principles, such as respecting privacy and avoiding violent rhetoric, the group says.
The group gained attention in 2020 during protests following George Floyd’s killing, when their filming of Burlington Police Department (BPD) interactions was widely noted. BTV CopWatch claims their presence curbed police misconduct by deterring officers aware of being recorded.
Their efforts aligned with a 2020 Burlington City Council resolution to reduce BPD’s force by 30% through attrition, a policy that stirred debate over public safety resources. As the momentum of 2020’s activism waned, BTV CopWatch’s activities diminished, but a recent statement signals their revival amid concerns over a growing police presence, particularly in City Hall Park.
In a relaunch letter, BTV CopWatch alleges that Burlington’s new police chief and “progressive” administration have increased patrols to address business owners’ demands for security. The group claims BPD is targeting and harassing the homeless, accusing officers of harassment and criminalization, “[the] administration’s approach is to have the town crawling with patrols to appease business owners,” the group said.
The letter continued, citing reports of BPD threatening independent copwatchers with stalking charges. The group, in their letter, also reported the “good news” that Burlington has not 7 cops in the past year, totaling just 61 now to attrition, “Guess what that means?,” the group said. “They already hate working for BPD and it won’t take much to make their jobs that much more miserable and chase them out of town.”
The collective has scheduled a relaunch event for Sunday night at 9:30 in City Hall Park, inviting community members to hear about past efforts, learn filming techniques, and participate in a group walk to observe police activity.
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