The Town of Brattleboro is announcing the retirement of Brattleboro Police Chief Norma Hardy. Hardy will step down from her role on March 30, 2026. Assistant Chief Jeremy Evans will succeed her as the new Police Chief, and Captain Adam Petlock will be promoted to Assistant Chief.
Hardy joined the Brattleboro Police Department in July 2021, stepping out of retirement to serve during a critical period when communities across the nation were examining ways to reform policing following the death of George Floyd. Hardy, who previously served 26 years with the Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey, believed her distinct background as a Black woman with extensive law enforcement experience would be an invaluable part of that conversation.
“I felt I could help change people’s minds about policing, particularly on a local level, by demonstrating all the things that a police department could offer,” Hardy said.
A few years on the job, amid rising concerns about downtown safety, Hardy developed the Downtown Safety Action Plan, which was approved by the Brattleboro Selectboard in August 2024. The plan added three officers to the force, paved the way for a substation in the Transportation Center, and formalized B.R.A.T. (the Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team), a specialized unit of unarmed officers focused on de-escalation and connecting the public with social services.
During a recent Selectboard meeting, the police department presented an update on B.R.A.T.’s first year, noting that in addition to providing a regular presence downtown through foot patrols, the unit has responded to more than 530 incidents. Hardy said she’s since heard from store owners that the program has been a “positive step in the right direction” as evidenced by a busy holiday shopping season.
“When I went downtown, especially with the Festival of Miniatures going on, it was great to see that the streets were full of people,” she said. Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter said the Downtown Safety Action Plan, along with initiatives like One Brattleboro, a cross-sector collaboration between local government and other agencies in town, has not only enhanced public safety but connected vulnerable populations with needed services.
“Chief Hardy’s guiding star has been her compassion,” said Potter. “It’s evident through the development of the B.R.A.T. unit, in the many excellent officers that she’s attracted to the department, and by the way she prioritizes listening to members of the community. Brattleboro benefited from both the wealth of knowledge she brought from her decades of experience, and from her thoughtful and careful approach to decision-making. The Brattleboro Police Department has a solid foundation and is a great place to serve due to Chief Hardy’s outstanding leadership and her legacy.”
As the Brattleboro Police Department readies for a transition in leadership this spring, Hardy said both Evans and Petlock are proven leaders with a deep commitment to the people of Brattleboro and to the principles of community policing.
Evans joined the department as a police officer in 1998. He rose through the ranks to become Assistant Chief in April 2023 and holds a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Evans has been an active participant in the One Brattleboro initiative since its inception and currently serves as the board president for the Windham County Safe Place Child Advocacy Center and as a member of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council’s subcommittee on Fair and Impartial Policing.
Adam Petlock, who joined the department in 2009 and was promoted to Captain in 2024, has been an integral part of the department’s outreach team and played a key role in implementing Project C.A.R.E. (Community Approach to Recovery and Engagement), which is a partnership between the department and social service agencies that formed in response to the opioid crisis. He has also been a driving force behind the Situation Table, a collaborative community model where social services, law enforcement, and health partners meet weekly to identify and collectively help people reduce their acutely elevated risk.
“I am honored to become the 25th Police Chief for the Town of Brattleboro,” said Evans. “Over the past 27 years, my focus has been to build partnerships, which has resulted in many innovative programs.”
He said that under Hardy’s leadership, the department has reoriented itself to more effectively face public safety challenges.
“The department is eternally grateful for Chief Hardy’s unwavering support, and I look forward to carrying these values forward as your next Chief of Police,” he said. “The Brattleboro Police Department will continue to address public safety concerns using innovative solutions and responsible budgeting practices to provide for a community where all can feel safe and our economy can flourish.”
Hardy expressed her gratitude to the Brattleboro community, the administration in Town government, other Town departments, and to the entire staff at the Brattleboro Police Department, whom she said embodies the mission of the department by holding themselves to the highest standards of service and conduct.
“I’d like to say thank you — not just to my department, but to the members of the community who gave me a chance,” said Hardy. “I value and care about all the people in the Town of Brattleboro, and it’s been my pleasure and honor to serve the community.”
# # #
Date: Jan. 22, 2026
230 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Brattleboro Police Chief Norma Hardy Announces Retirement,
Asst. Chief Jeremy Evans to Take Helm in March
Date: Jan. 22, 2026
Brattleboro.gov(802) 251-8151230 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
