BURLINGTON — Former Burlington Police Chief Jennifer Morrison will not be returning to her role with the city, citing health problems with her husband and “mismanagement” and “social activism” by the City Council that she said has put public safety in jeopardy.
Morrison’s husband is recovering from a transplant operation he had earlier this summer, which prompted Morrison to step away from her role as the interim police chief in June.
She had been scheduled to return in October as the city looks for a permanent replacement to disgraced former Chief Brandon del Pozo, who stepped down last December. Morrison took over as interim in January.
But in a letter to Mayor Miro Weinberger released Monday, Morrison said the primary reason she wouldn’t return this fall was the recent conduct of the council.
Morrison criticized the council’s policy on Fair and Impartial Policing and their move to cut the number of police officers by 30%. Morrison said both moves were influenced by politics, were arbitrary and put public safety at risk.
Burlington is one of many communities across the country where activists are calling for reduced spending on police and more on social services. Morrison said the final straw in her decision to not return was watching councilors debate the police department budget in late June.
“I witnessed councilors who conflated facts, ignored information previously provided to them, and demonstrated disrespect for their department heads by diving deep into line items within department budget and cutting line items without even knowing what the impact the cuts would have, nor the ripple effects of cutting in one area,” Morrison said.
In a statement, Weinberger thanked Morrison for stepping in at a “difficult time” for the city last December but didn’t address her remarks about the council except to praise her “candor.”
Morrison took over as interim chief in January. She has been assisted by Deputy Chief Jon Murad, who has been serving as acting chief.