A legislative committee has decided to hire a consulting firm to evaluate law enforcement in Vermont.
The study is intended to help lawmakers as they consider how to restructure local and state policing and increase cooperation between law enforcement groups.
Consultants will look at how towns contract with sheriff’s departments for coverage and the role of the state police.
The committee was formed to try to ease the burden on the Vermont State Police, who say they are strapped by routine calls from towns that do not have full coverage.
Among the options being considering is establishing a state department of law enforcement that would bring together all state law enforcement agencies. Another option is to require towns of more than 3,000 residents to have their own police departments or hire other law enforcement agencies for coverage.