To Randolph Town (outside village) Residents -

The issue of police coverage in Randolph is uniquely complicated. Randolph leaders have made numerous attempts over the years to expand the police district beyond the existing village district. The issue is always hotly debated along a predictable dividing line: the residents of the village want to expand the police district to cover and tax the entire town, while the residents of the town want to keep the status quo and have village residents continue paying the majority of taxes for police services.

Both sides seem to think there is inherent unfairness in the opposing opinion - the village residents think the existing arrangement is unfair to the village residents, while the town residents think expanding the district to cover and tax the town is unfair to the newly taxed town residents. This is the argument every time expansion is debated, and defeated.

A local police force is an asset to the community; even if you never dial 911, it is insurance you hope you never need to claim. In the same manner, we pay taxes to maintain roads on which we never drive, and fire departments we hopefully never need to call. These are services on which we depend as a community, and for which the entire town is and should be taxed. 

Expanding the Randolph Village Police District to include all areas within our town boundaries would ensure that every resident receives equal protection and service from our police force.

It has been nearly a year since the village police budget was defeated and a police services committee was formed to study the issue yet again. The committee is preparing to issue a recommendation to partially expand the village district but not include the entire town. A partial expansion will further perpetuate division between residents in and out of the district, and guarantee the issue will continue to be debated.

At the January 18th, 2024 selectboard meeting, Police Chief Clouature said year end data from the VT State Police showed they responded to approximately 1,100 incidents from the town of Randolph, outside of the village district. The Randolph PD responded to roughly 1,700 incidents in the village district during that time, in addition to responding to several hundred incidents outside the village.

This demonstrates a clear and convincing need for police coverage in the town outside the village district. It is time for Randolph residents to stop relying on outside agencies, take responsibility for our local police coverage, and expand coverage to the entire town.

We would like to hear from Randolph residents residing in town but out of the village district. Please sign this petition if you are a Randolph town resident and agree that it's time for an expanded police district to include the entire town of Randolph. Tell the Randolph Selectboard to stop wasting time arguing about the village district and unite the town under one budget.

For more information, please see: Randolph Police Services Debate

Thank you!