The Town of Brattleboro today marked the retirement of Police Chief Norma Hardy, whose remarkable four and a half years of leadership transformed the Brattleboro Police Department and leaves an enduring legacy of community-centered policing. Chief Hardy officially stepped down on March 30, 2026, after more than 30 years in law enforcement, a career defined by compassion, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the people she served. Hardy’s retirement coincided with the swearing in of Brattleboro’s next Police Chief, Jeremy Evans, whose career with the department began in 1998, and the new Assistant Police Chief, Adam Petlock.
Under Chief Hardy’s leadership, the Brattleboro Police Department pursued an ambitious and forward-thinking agenda to make the community safer and more connected. Her hallmark initiative, the Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team (BRAT), placed additional unarmed officers on regular foot patrol throughout downtown, based at the newly built police substation at the Transportation Center. In its first year alone, the unit responded to more than 530 incidents, and business owners credited the increased visibility with revitalizing the downtown experience for residents and visitors.
Chief Hardy also helped steward One Brattleboro, a collaborative process that aligned public safety goals with the needs of the town’s most vulnerable neighbors. Working in close coordination with the town’s network of social service leaders, Chief Hardy ushered in a renewed climate of communication, trust, and respect between law enforcement, community members, and business owners. Overseeing the development of Brattleboro’s Downtown Safety Action Plan, the town added three officers and formalized community resource officer positions across the department.
Chief Hardy was a visible and approachable presence in town, known by name to Main Street business owners and residents. Dedicated to community relations, she worked to break down barriers by adding “Chat with the Chief” to the Coffee with a Cop program, offering informal opportunities for residents to build relationships with the department.
Town Manager John Potter praised Chief Hardy’s tenure, saying, “Chief Hardy has made Brattleboro a model of small-town, collaborative public safety.”
“Guided by her deep compassion and commitment to community partnerships, she worked every day to make our town safer, more welcoming, and more resilient,” Potter said. “Whether it was the development of the BRAT unit, her contributions to working together at One Brattleboro, or her ability to attract talented new officers to the department, Chief Hardy prioritized listening to members of the community and understanding the needs of our town. We’ll honor Chief Hardy’s tenure by continuing to build on the foundation she put down.”
Selectboard Chairman Oscar Heller echoed that sentiment: “The Town owes Chief Hardy a great deal of gratitude for her steadfast commitment to working in partnership with the community to make our town safer.”
“For the first time in the 27 years we’ve been doing business in Brattleboro, we saw the benefits of a police chief who brought real experience, talent, and vision to her position,” said Matt Maranian, owner of Boomerang. “She took a creative and balanced approach to some of our most challenging problems, and delivered results. Crime ticked down on her watch.”
“Chief Hardy brought a serious commitment to leading collaboratively,” said Elizabeth Bridgewater, Executive Director of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. “We knew we each shared a deep care for this town and everyone who lives here.”
“Under Chief Hardy’s leadership, the Brattleboro Police Department has become a compassionate, community-focused service that is essential to our town’s ability to thrive,” said Deena Chadwick, owner of Deena by Design. ”I saw this firsthand when, after a Selectboard meeting, a BRAT member recognized my missing brother and offered to help. Chief Hardy herself hurried after me near midnight to talk with me, share her experience, and let me know she was there if I needed her. Brattleboro is on a better path, and we are deeply grateful as she retires.”
In retirement, Chief Hardy plans to spend time with family, continue writing poetry, and mentor young police officers, ensuring that her influence on the profession extends well beyond Brattleboro.
“I’d like to say thank you – not just to my department, but to a town that entrusted me with this opportunity to make an impact,” Chief Hardy said. “I have valued this chance to build new partnerships across Brattleboro. It’s truly been my pleasure and honor to serve this community.”
Chief Hardy’s most lasting contribution may be the culture she established within the department itself. Incoming Chief Jeremy Evans, who was promoted to Assistant Chief under Hardy in 2023, has committed to carrying forward the values she championed. Captain Adam Petlock, promoted to Assistant Chief effective March 30, has likewise been deeply involved in the department’s community outreach programs.
Chief Hardy began her law enforcement career with the Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey, where she served for 26 years and rose to become the first woman to attain the rank of Chief in that department’s history. During her time in New York, she responded to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the September 11, 2001, attacks for which she was awarded two Medals of Valor by the Port Authority. She spent years on the front lines of the crack and opioid epidemics that devastated urban communities throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
After retiring from the Port Authority in 2018, Chief Hardy came out of retirement once more to serve Brattleboro, stepping into the role of Police Chief in July 2021. As Vermont’s first Black woman to hold the rank of Police Chief, she brought a wealth of professional expertise to a town that appreciated her particular combination of lived experience and moral clarity.
# # #230 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Date: March 30, 2026
