Burlington forms 12-person committee to choose permanent police chief
Burlington has formed a 12-person hiring committee to help select the city’s next permanent police chief, launching the committee phase of a search supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The committee includes representatives of city government, the City Council, the Burlington Police Commission and the community. Its role is to evaluate candidates after an initial review by the policing association.
The City of Burlington received 15 applications during a posting period that ran from May 18 through June 5, 2026. The applicants were not identified in the city’s announcement.
How the search is expected to proceed
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, known as IACP, is to conduct the initial application review and reduce the pool to five candidates. Those candidates are then expected to undergo a full assessment.
After that assessment, the committee aims to narrow the field to two candidates for interviews. The city said interviews were planned for July and August 2026, but did not specify a final selection date.
The announced sequence describes a planned process, not a completed selection. The city did not name finalists or indicate that any applicant had been favored.
Community input preceded committee work
IACP’s earlier work for the search included four focus groups, stakeholder meetings and an online survey offered in multiple languages. The survey received 603 responses and was available in 10 languages, according to the city.
That engagement work was part of the groundwork for the permanent-chief search before the hiring committee began its candidate-evaluation role.
Leadership transition remains ongoing
Interim Chief Shawn Burke has led the Burlington Police Department since March 24, 2025, following former Chief Jon Murad’s resignation. The search will determine the department’s next long-term leader.
The city announcement carries a formal release date of July 7, 2026. The webpage displaying the announcement was posted July 27, creating a difference between the stated release date and the page-posting date.
For now, the next identified steps are IACP’s initial screening, the full assessments for the five candidates selected at that stage, and the committee’s planned effort to identify two people for interviews.
Sources
- Burlington Forms Hiring Committee for Police Chief Search, City of Burlington Mayor’s Office