Burlington Police Commission Grills Interim Chief Over ICE Raid Response

Commission questions transparency and use of force during March 11th incident in South Burlington.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 6:36am

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Burlington's police commission met for the first time since the March 11th incidents involving an ICE raid in South Burlington. The commission grilled the interim police chief over the department's actions, questioning whether they followed the city's fair and impartial policing policy and demanding access to body camera footage before it's made public.

Why it matters

The commission's review of the police department's response to the ICE raid is important for ensuring transparency and accountability around use of force incidents, especially those involving federal immigration authorities operating in the community.

The details

During the meeting, commission chair Robert L. Depper III questioned why the interim police chief, Shawn Burke, did not consult the city attorney's office before the deployment. Burke defended his actions, saying he had never consulted the city attorney in his career. The commission also pressed Burke on releasing body camera footage, with Depper stating the commission has the authority to request it separately from any formal complaints. Commissioner Julia Ginorio questioned why police did not intervene to protect protesters from ICE's use of force.

  • The police commission met on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
  • The incidents in question occurred on March 11, 2026.

The players

Robert L. Depper III

Chair of the Burlington police commission.

Shawn Burke

Burlington's interim police chief.

Julia Ginorio

Member of the Burlington police commission.

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What they’re saying

“We have use of force issues that the public has brought forth, we have video on Reddit that is publicly available that… whether what happened is right or wrong, it certainly paints the Burlington police department in a difficult light.”

— Robert L. Depper III, Chair, Burlington Police Commission

“Never in my career have I once consulted with the city's attorney's office. I think they might be puzzled by the question themselves… Am I happy about how any of this turned out? No.”

— Shawn Burke, Interim Police Chief, Burlington

“I'm going to continue to request that body cam footage, under our inherent authority, separate from the complaint authority.”

— Robert L. Depper III, Chair, Burlington Police Commission

What’s next

The use of force review related to the March 11th incident will be released on or before April 10th, 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement, immigration authorities, and community oversight in Burlington, with the police commission seeking greater transparency and accountability around the department's response to the ICE raid and any use of force incidents.