By Kolby LaMarche

Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George announced on Wednesday that her office would not prosecute six protesters arrested during a tense federal immigration enforcement operation in South Burlington the previous month.

In explaining her decision, George pointed to prosecutorial discretion — the authority granted to prosecutors to evaluate cases based on evidence, context, public safety priorities, resource limitations, and the broader interests of justice rather than filing charges in every instance referred by police.

She declined to prosecute the three Vermont State Police cases outright. The three Burlington cases were referred to the Burlington Community Justice Center for a restorative justice process instead of traditional court proceedings. 

Law enforcement leaders and residents responded quickly and forcefully, with much of the news going national over the weekend.

The Burlington Police Officers’ Association issued a statement last week calling the decision disappointing and sad. The union, which represents rank-and-file officers in the city, emphasized that officers had acted professionally under difficult circumstances and that failing to hold accountable those who physically confronted police sends the wrong message.

“We find particular frustration and conflict with…George’s assertion that she does not believe law enforcement…are capable of objectively investigating..community complaints,” a union statement read Wednesday night.  

Interim Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke stated that the department would not participate in the restorative justice process for the referred cases. He stressed that engaging in physical confrontations with law enforcement is not protected speech.

South Burlington Police Chief William Breault also pushed back. Although his department made no arrests that day, he released a statement strongly disagreeing with George’s characterization of law enforcement actions, describing her comments as baseless and said they undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew Birmingham released a joint statement the same day. They called the decision disheartening and warned it sets a dangerous precedent.

“Lawbreakers in Chittenden County already seemed to know they can act with impunity,” the statement read. “Individuals at the Dorset Street incident repeatedly stated that State’s Attorney George would not prosecute them for their behavior that day. It turns out they were right.”

Morrison later added that George appeared to be “an activist first and a prosecutor second.” She suggested the Department of Public Safety may need to reconsider its approach to future protests in Chittenden County, from initial response decisions to making arrests.

The March 11 incident centered on an ICE raid at a home on Dorset Street. Agents detained three residents inside the property while more than 100 demonstrators gathered outside in opposition to the action. 

Protesters blocked access and interfered with law enforcement efforts. Some escalated the situation with physical confrontations, including reports of spitting at officers and throwing objects.

Vermont State Police arrested three individuals and cited them for disorderly conduct. Burlington police arrested three others on charges that included hindering or resisting arrest, assault on a law enforcement officer, and impeding an officer.

Police unions and department leaders argue the decision undermines officer safety and the rule of law at a time when protests against federal operations are likely to recur. 

They maintain their internal reviews found no policy violations by officers on scene.

George and her supporters, including the ACLU of Vermont, defend the choice as a legitimate use of prosecutorial discretion. They note the arrested individuals had no prior criminal records and argue it would be unfair to single them out when broader accountability questions remain unresolved – those questions, though, not clearly stated by her office. 

For the six individuals arrested on Dorset Street, the cases now effectively end without criminal prosecution. Some of them may attend a restorative practice session, even if representatives from the police department don’t show. 

All of this arrives as George campaigns for a third term as Chittenden County State’s Attorney. 

She was first appointed to the position in January 2017 by Gov. Phil Scott following the resignation of her predecessor, T.J. Donovan. George won election to full terms in 2018 and 2022, the latter in a competitive Democratic primary where she defeated challenger Ted Kenney by nearly a two-to-one margin despite significant fundraising by her opponent.

On March 30, 2026, Franklin County State’s Attorney Bram Kranichfeld announced his candidacy for the Chittenden County post, launching his campaign in Burlington’s Old North End. 

Kranichfeld, a longtime Burlington resident and former Ward 2 city councilor, previously served as a deputy state’s attorney in Chittenden County and held roles including executive director of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs and chief of the criminal division at the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. He was appointed to lead Franklin County’s prosecutor’s office in 2024 after the resignation of his predecessor.

Kranichfeld has centered his challenge on restoring public confidence in the criminal justice system, criticizing what he describes as a “catch and release” approach to certain offenses and highlighting concerns over property crime and open-air drug activity in Burlington. 

He has positioned himself as offering a more consistent and accountable style of prosecution while still supporting compassionate alternatives where appropriate. 

In his announcement, he spoke about preserving Chittenden County’s character as a welcoming community by addressing safety concerns head-on. George launched her own reelection bid last month. Her campaign emphasizes a “fair, smart, and fearless” approach that combines accountability with evidence-based strategies such as treatment courts, recovery services, and reentry support.