Town of Essex v. Bush

This case concerns the correct procedures for instituting disciplinary proceedings against a police officer under 24 V.S.A. § 1932. The district court for the Chittenden circuit held that the Town of Essex did not comply with the statutory procedures. Because I believe that the district court’s decision was erroneous, I respectfully dissent.

The parties agree on the relevant facts. On January 13, 1981, Patrolman Robert Bush banged on a door at the Essex police station, and broke it. Two hours after this incident, the town’s police chief relieved the patrolman from duty. The chief submitted a…