The statutory purpose of the Department of Public Safety is to promote the detection and prevention of crime, to participate in searches for lost and missing persons, and to assist in cases of statewide or local disasters or emergencies. In order to carry out this purpose the Department is organized into four divisions: State Police, Emergency Management, Fire safety, and Forensics Lab.
State Police
The Vermont State Police consists of 327 sworn members, approximately 90 emergency communication dispatchers and civilian support staff. Every day members make a difference in the safety of Vermonters and visitors alike.
Vermont Emergency Management
Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) provides aid and support to Vermont’s Local Emergency Management Directors, Local Emergency Planning Committees, Regional Planning Commissions, Community Emergency Response Teams, state agencies, and emergency response providers.
Fire Safety
The multi-faceted mission of the Division of Fire Safety is to protect the public and the fire service with coordinated efforts in code enforcement, fire service training, public education, hazardous materials and incident investigation thereby reducing the loss of life and property due to fire and other emergencies in the State of Vermont.
Vermont Forensics Lab
The VFL is the only forensic laboratory in the State of Vermont and provides services to the entire criminal justice system. Police officers representing local and state agencies, in addition to game wardens, state's attorneys' investigators and public defenders, all bring evidence to the laboratory for examination.