A special legislative committee in Vermont recommended against impeachment of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore, who was charged with assault for kicking a shackled prisoner. The committee urged the sheriff to resign for the good of the people of Franklin County, stating that his remaining in office is a detriment to the citizens. Although the report outlined concerning actions by Grismore, including a violation of the state’s use of force policy, it did not meet the high bar for impeachment. Grismore, who was elected in 2022, was fired from his position as a captain in the sheriff’s department for the same incident for which he pleaded not guilty to a simple assault charge.
Grismore, the only candidate on the ballot who won both the Republican and Democratic nominations, said the committee’s recommendation not to pursue impeachment is a vindication of what he knew all along. However, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council found that he violated the state’s use of force policy in December and voted for him to permanently lose his law enforcement certification, preventing him from enforcing the law in Vermont. A special legislative committee was formed to investigate possible impeachment, and it stressed the importance of a sheriff fulfilling law enforcement duties and upholding the highest standards of honesty, integrity, conduct, and service, which Grismore was deemed to be lacking.
The committee emphasized the need for a sheriff to receive ongoing law enforcement training, which is not available to a decertified officer like Grismore. It also highlighted the importance of a sheriff showing and upholding the highest standards of honesty, integrity, conduct, and service, qualities that the committee believed Grismore lacked based on his conduct prior to taking office and his continued insistence that his use of force was appropriate. Grismore’s time in office has been marred by controversy, with the investigation into his finances by state police just before he took office raising further concerns about his ability to fulfill his duties as sheriff.
Despite the recommendation from the legislative committee not to pursue impeachment, the pressure for Grismore to resign remains strong. While he has not immediately responded to calls for his resignation, the resolution urging him to step down for the good of the people of Franklin County will be introduced in the House by committee members. The committee believes that Grismore remaining in office is a disservice to the citizens, and while impeachment may not be pursued, the need for him to resign based on his actions and behavior while in office is clear. The controversy surrounding Grismore’s tenure as sheriff has raised questions about his ability to effectively serve and uphold the standards expected of an elected official in Vermont.
