Town of Brattleboro Honors Chief Norma Hardy, Appoints Chief Evans and Assistant Chief Petlock
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.
