OFFICE OF MAYOR MIRO WEINBERGER
149 Church Street | Burlington, VT 05401 | 802.865.7272
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2015
Contact: Brian Lowe
802.735.3983
Mayor Miro Weinberger Statement on Drug Enforcement Administration-Led Operation
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement regarding the last night’s police-involved shooting:
“Though we live in a City consistently ranked as one of the safest in the United States, the events last night on Elmwood Avenue underscore the seriousness of the opiate challenge we face as a community.
“Mr. Stephens was a dangerous individual with a long record of engagement in serious violence and drug trafficking and we appreciate the critical work that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its Task Force performs in its attempts to protect Burlingtonians from the devastating impacts of opiates.
“At the same time, I am very concerned that bullets from the law enforcement operation left Mr. Stephens’ apartment and strayed into another home. I have had multiple calls with U.S. Attorney Eric Miller expressing this concern over the last twenty-four hours and at my direction Chief Brandon Del Pozo met today with the DEA’s Special Agent in Charge of the New England Division and secured assurances that the DEA’s Office of Inspector General will perform a serious after action review of this incident so that all agencies involved in protecting the public in this City can benefit from its lessons.”
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