Citizens of Vergennes,
As a reminder, a Vergennes Police Department Community Forum is scheduled for Thursday, 31 January 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Saint Peter's Church Parish Hall. During this forum, I will discuss the last years events and training, current trends in crime, where your police department is now and where I envision it to be in the next five years.
Impaired driving continues to be a major threat to highway safety. I have invited a guest speaker who lost her son to impaired driving. She is a very engaging speaker and brings a perspective which I hope none of us ever experience. In 2018 there were sixty fatal crashes in the State of Vermont which resulted in sixty-eight fatalities. Five crashes involved alcohol only, thirteen involved drugs only, ten involved a combination of alcohol and drugs and fifteen involved active cannabis. Twenty-two involved speeding. This senseless loss of life continues from year to year.
This forum provides you the opportunity to ask questions. I ask you to please attend this meeting and I look forward to seeing you there.

God Bless and Be Safe!
Chief Merkel