Why It Matters
A criminal case against a Burlington, Vermont police officer is drawing significant attention across the state as questions of law enforcement use of force, officer accountability, and public safety intersect in Chittenden County Superior Court. The case involving Officer Jeffrey Baur centers on whether a sworn officer acted within legal and departmental boundaries when he discharged his firearm toward a vehicle carrying two minors during a high-stress call last summer.
The outcome of this case could have lasting implications for how Vermont law enforcement agencies train officers to respond to rapidly evolving scenarios and how departments define and enforce use-of-force standards across the state.
What Happened
Burlington Police Officer Jeffrey Baur pleaded not guilty on Friday, March 27, 2026, to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment following an incident that occurred on August 10, 2025, in the Prospect Hill area of Burlington, Vermont.
Officers were responding to a report of a possible kidnapping when the encounter with the vehicle took place. Baur discharged his firearm toward the vehicle, which contained two minors at the time. No injuries were reported, and neither minor was struck by the bullet.
According to charging documents made public Friday, Baur told investigators he believed the gun had fired accidentally. However, a law enforcement expert who conducted an independent review concluded that “regardless of whether the discharge was intentional or negligent,” Baur had pointed and discharged his weapon at two minors under circumstances that did not justify the use of deadly force.
Baur entered his not guilty plea through his attorney, William Vasiliou, during an arraignment Friday morning in Chittenden County Superior criminal court. A large group of supporters, including numerous law enforcement officers, were present in the courtroom gallery during the proceeding.
By the Numbers
- 2 — Misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment filed against Officer Baur
- 2 — Minors present inside the vehicle at the time of the discharge
- 0 — Injuries reported as a result of the incident
- 7+ months — Time elapsed between the August 10, 2025 incident and the March 27, 2026 arraignment
- 1 — Independent law enforcement expert review conducted as part of the investigation into the shooting
Zoom Out
The charges against Baur reflect a broader national conversation about when and how law enforcement officers may use deadly force, particularly in situations involving civilians who may be crime victims rather than suspects. Across the United States, prosecutors in multiple states have brought criminal charges against officers in cases where investigations determined that the use of force was not justified by the circumstances at the time.
Vermont, though a smaller state, has not been immune to these pressures. Burlington, the state’s largest city, has faced ongoing scrutiny of its police department in recent years, including debates over departmental staffing, community policing approaches, and officer conduct standards. The Burlington Police Department has struggled with recruitment and retention challenges, which adds a layer of complexity to how the department and the broader law enforcement community respond to cases involving one of their own.
Cases in which officers are charged criminally for on-duty use of force remain relatively rare nationally, though they have become more frequent since high-profile incidents in the mid-2010s prompted state legislatures and law enforcement agencies to revisit use-of-force policies. The presence of minors in the vehicle at the time of the discharge is expected to be a significant factor as the case proceeds.
What’s Next
With his not guilty plea entered, Officer Jeffrey Baur’s case will now move through the standard pretrial process in Chittenden County Superior Court. Both the prosecution and defense are expected to conduct additional discovery, which may include access to body camera footage, police radio communications, witness statements, and the full findings of the independent law enforcement expert review cited in the charging documents.
It has not been publicly confirmed whether Baur remains on active duty with the Burlington Police Department or has been placed on administrative leave pending the resolution of the criminal case. Departments typically make such determinations based on internal policy and the nature of the charges involved.
A pretrial conference or scheduling hearing is likely to be set in the coming weeks. If the case proceeds to trial, both the question of intent and the justification for use of force under Vermont law are expected to be central points of contention between the prosecution and defense.