In September, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council will hold a hearing to determine what happens to Nicholas Fontana, a former Rutland City police officer accused of violating the state's anti-bias policing policy, muting his body camera during a traffic stop, and falsifying an official police report.

The council can issue anything from a written warning to a full revocation of Fontana's law enforcement certification. It must choose revocation.

According to the hearing notice, Fontana arrived at the scene of a September 2025 traffic stop and deliberately muted his body camera for large portions of the encounter, including while he interacted with people in the vehicle. He also requested identification from passengers without informing them, as required by the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy, that they were not obligated to comply.

That would be serious enough on its own. But a separate investigation found far worse. Rutland County State's Attorney Ian Sullivan issued a formal letter in June placing Fontana's credibility in question, after an internal investigation concluded that Fontana had intentionally falsified a police report in an assault case. The report stated that no witness had provided a statement. That was false: a written statement had been in Fontana's possession for weeks before he wrote the report. The investigation also found that statement was later discarded or destroyed, and that Fontana had neglected to follow through on the underlying assault case entirely.

Fontana is the second Rutland City officer accused of anti-bias violations in recent months. Cpl. Tyler Tavares received only a written warning after contacting federal immigration authorities about people in a traffic stop. A second slap on the wrist is not accountability.

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council must revoke Nicholas Fontana's certification and make clear that falsifying records, muting cameras, and ignoring victims carry real consequences in Vermont.

Sign to demand it.