After more than a thousand days as the acting police chief in Burlington and a failed appointment to get the full-time job, Acting Chief Jon Murad has once again been appointed by Mayor Miro Weinberger for the permanent position to lead the department. “I think there are things we can and should continue to debate about the future of policing,” Weinberger said. “I don’t think it should be a debate that we need a permanent police chief.”Burlington has been without a full-time, permanent police chief for three years.In January 2022, city council split the vote on the appointment of Murad. Progressives voiced multiple concerns about Murad’s candidacy, and they believe those concerns still exist today. “A lot of the concerns I have with Chief Murad are some qualities I see in the mayor,” said Joe Magee, (P) Ward 3 Councilor. “Any contact I’ve had with the Acting Chief, I’ve had to be proactive and do my own outreach. He has not made an effort to reach out to me, and as far as I know, he hasn’t made the effort to reach out to other councilors.”Magee said he doesn’t believe the acting chief or mayor work collaboratively with other city stakeholders. Inside the department, Magee also doesn’t think enough or any work has been done to really address bias and racial disparities. In a message to NBC5 on Thursday, city councilor Zoraya Hightower, (P) Ward 1, said she’s already planning to vote against the appointment. City councilor Joan Shannon, (D) South District, will be voting yes on this appointment. She said it is time to move forward with who she believes is the best candidate for the job. “We know this chief better than we’ve known any chief or any candidate because he’s been in the job doing it under a microscope for years now,” Shannon said. Acting Chief Murad is confident that he is the right man for the job and that he has worked collaboratively and will continue to do so. “I’m willing to continue to have conversations with anyone,” Murad said. “I think I’ve led in a way that demonstrates I’ve taken concerns into account and moved forward with some of those concerns being addressed and also saying how we function is a matter of being as open as we can be.”The city council will vote on the confirmation of the chief appointment at their meeting on June 5.
After more than a thousand days as the acting police chief in Burlington and a failed appointment to get the full-time job, Acting Chief Jon Murad has once again been appointed by Mayor Miro Weinberger for the permanent position to lead the department.
“I think there are things we can and should continue to debate about the future of policing,” Weinberger said. “I don’t think it should be a debate that we need a permanent police chief.”
Burlington has been without a full-time, permanent police chief for three years.
In January 2022, city council split the vote on the appointment of Murad. Progressives voiced multiple concerns about Murad’s candidacy, and they believe those concerns still exist today.
“A lot of the concerns I have with Chief Murad are some qualities I see in the mayor,” said Joe Magee, (P) Ward 3 Councilor. “Any contact I’ve had with the Acting Chief, I’ve had to be proactive and do my own outreach. He has not made an effort to reach out to me, and as far as I know, he hasn’t made the effort to reach out to other councilors.”
Magee said he doesn’t believe the acting chief or mayor work collaboratively with other city stakeholders. Inside the department, Magee also doesn’t think enough or any work has been done to really address bias and racial disparities.
In a message to NBC5 on Thursday, city councilor Zoraya Hightower, (P) Ward 1, said she’s already planning to vote against the appointment.
City councilor Joan Shannon, (D) South District, will be voting yes on this appointment. She said it is time to move forward with who she believes is the best candidate for the job.
“We know this chief better than we’ve known any chief or any candidate because he’s been in the job doing it under a microscope for years now,” Shannon said.
Acting Chief Murad is confident that he is the right man for the job and that he has worked collaboratively and will continue to do so.
“I’m willing to continue to have conversations with anyone,” Murad said. “I think I’ve led in a way that demonstrates I’ve taken concerns into account and moved forward with some of those concerns being addressed and also saying how we function is a matter of being as open as we can be.”
The city council will vote on the confirmation of the chief appointment at their meeting on June 5.
