SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT - It's hard to find an excuse not to know your local police department when you live in a town whose population is under 20,000. South Burlington, Vermont, most recently the home of the first International House of Pancakes in the state, is also home to South Burlington Police Department located on Dorset St. Chief of Police, Trevor Whipple, has been the resident Chief of Police since 2006 and since then has represented the community in a friendly and personal way.
Whipple, a native of Littleton, NH, joined the police staff in South Burlington 3 years ago. He began his career in his home town around age 16, visiting the local police station and sitting in on dispatch and “ride-along” with the staff of the department. Part of Whipple's job requirements include overseeing and hiring the 47 officers that work in the department. There are 41 male officers and 6 female officers. “Admittedly there isn't much diversity as of right now, but that's something we're working on,” says Whipple.
He began his career in Littleton but soon worked his way into Barre, VT where he was Chief of Police for 7.5 years. In Barre, Whipple experienced the good with the bad, as any police officer is guaranteed to do. He recalls one incident in Barre, right before Christmas when a house fire was called in. As the police officers and fire department stood outside, attempting to put out the fire, they could hear the cries of the people inside, burning to death. Watching tragedy that is just out of your reach to solve is part of the job, says Whipple, “The good far outweighs the bad.”
Located in his office are pictures and newspaper cutouts of stories and family members who have touched the hearts of this small town police chief. One image, a girl named Sydney, became a friend of the family who had been involved in a horrifying car crash. In order to aid the girl in overcoming the crash, Whipple took personal time out of his day to visit her school and help her present the images and story of the crash to her classmates. It's going above and beyond like this that creates sensitivity to the strict duties of a police officer. “People want to become police officers so they can help people, its hearing the ' Because of you, I'm ok' that makes the job worth while. Every day is different,” says Whipple,” It’s like playing the lottery.”
In order to become a police officer, Whipple admits that there isn't much to it. He encourages those interested to start young and maintain a clean background while doing your research. Leadership courses and a graduate degree are encouraged but not necessary to apply for the position. “Really, you just use common sense. Larger departments require more education in your background, but it really just depends on the agency that hires you.”
After spending 30 some odd years in the business, Whipple doesn't plan on quitting any time soon. When comparing his work in Littleton to work here in Vermont, Whipple says it’s hard to compare. “The times are so much different now; it’s hard to base on either size or time.” When it comes to working the force, Trevor Whipple knows what he's talking about. “It's all I know,” he chuckles, “If I get fired, I'm screwed!”
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