Vermont Supreme Court upholds revocation of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore’s police certification

The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the revocation of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore’s police certification.

Vermont Criminal Justice Council Voted in December 2023 Permanently revoke Grismore’s law enforcement certification. The board found that the sheriff violated the state’s use of force police rules. He kicked the detained person In August 2022.

Grismore appealed that decision to the Vermont Supreme Court, which upheld the council’s decision in a decision released Friday.

“Defendant has failed to establish that his due process rights were violated in any way,” Judge Karen Carroll wrote in the 12-page unanimous decision.

Last month, a prosecutor dropped a criminal assault charge against Grismore stemming from an incident in which Grismore, then a sheriff’s department captain, kicked a shackled detainee. Video of that incident has since been widely distributed.

Decision by Grand Isle State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito dismiss misdemeanor charge It followed two earlier trials that ended after jurors were unable to decide whether Grismore’s actions amounted to assault.

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council’s action to revoke Grismore’s police certification has no legal impact on his ability to serve as sheriff under Vermont law. Sheriffs are independently elected officials in Vermont.

But the decision limits what he can do in this role. The criminal justice council chairman said that during the cancellation he would no longer be able to take part in many aspects of standard police work, such as investigating crimes or patrolling.

Grismore maintained he did nothing wrong, claiming he helped two other deputies subdue the detainee.

Neither Grismore nor his attorney could immediately be reached for comment Friday.