Payouts soar as use of force by Burlington police on Black residents hits record high

Burlington has settled five separate lawsuits related to excessive use-of-force since 2019, amounting to nearly $1.5 million in payouts. The department's data shows that Black residents are overrepresented among these use-of-force incidents, at six times the rate of their population share, reaching an all-time high of 99 in 2025. Advocates warn that this record disparity requires immediate attention and a meaningful response from city leadership.