Burlington mayor picks new chief of police

The Burlington Police Department on North Avenue in Burlington on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/burlington-police-1-20260813-1200x798.jpg" /> The Burlington Police Department on North Avenue in Burlington on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

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Burlington’s mayor has selected a longtime New York police official to be the city’s next police chief.

Anthony Geraci served in various New York police departments throughout his career, beginning with the New York City Police Department in 1998. He later moved upstate to Albany, and served as police chief in Watervliet and Newburgh, according to Seven Days and Vermont News First. Most recently, Geraci worked for Strategic Government Resources, a Texas-based recruitment firm.

“He is an exceptional candidate with the experience, character, and values to meet our community safety challenges, and I am confident he will be a strong leader to bring the Burlington Police Department into its next chapter,” Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak wrote in a statement Monday.

Mulvaney-Stanak had yet to publicly announce her decision when the selection was first reported by Vermont News First on Sunday. His appointment follows a months-long selection process which began in July.

Geraci will replace Burlington’s interim Police Chief Shawn Burke. Burke stepped down as South Burlington’s police chief to take on the interim role beginning in March 2025.

Former Police Chief Jon Murad did not seek reappointment in 2025 after he and Mulvaney-Stanak, a Progressive, clashed over their approaches to public safety, as Burlington has debated reducing its police force by 30% since 2020. The city has struggled to manage homelessness and drug use, asking Gov. Phil Scott for help in August.

Geraci, leaves behind several controversies from his time in New York. Efforts to reach him for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

The city of Watervliet placed Geraci on leave after 10 months, claiming it was facing budget constraints related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Watervliet’s police union backed him when he was asked not to return, telling a local news outlet that Geraci’s firing was “personal in nature.” The union said they believed his dismissal was a result of changes he made in the department which deprioritized profit from ticketing motorists, The Times Union reported.

Geraci then served as chief for Newburgh between 2021 and 2024. He left the department amid accusations of misconduct by three women, according to Hudson Valley News 12. Geraci told the news outlet that an independent investigator cleared him of any official wrongdoing, and moved to serve as the director of security for Newburgh schools between May 2024 and February 2025. Geraci said he left that position after changes in district leadership “no longer aligned with my personal values,” Westchester News 12 reported.

Burlington’s city council is expected to vote on Geraci’s appointment at a meeting on Nov. 9.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington mayor picks new chief of police.