Animal cruelty is a serious crime with documented ties to human violence. Building a successful case and keeping our communities safe requires a coordinated approach from private and public partners across multiple sectors.
On Friday, June 17 a free all-day workshop will be held exclusively for Vermont licensed veterinarians and humane officers, which includes all law enforcement officers and designated municipal animal control officers and humane society employees.
This presentation will:
- Explore the connection between animal cruelty and human violence
- Familiarize participants with Vermont’s criminal code and case law related to crimes against animals
- Explain how to work with your state prosecutor to build a successful case
- Review standards of animal care
- Provide an overview of animal cruelty investigation techniques, including report writing
- Provide local, state, and national resources available to assist with investigations
Friday, June 17, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
This workshop is being offered free of charge thanks to a generous grant from the State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program awarded to the Vermont Humane Federation for the creation of a uniform training program for investigators of animal cruelty. Registrants can attend the session either in person at the Vermont Law School or remotely on a live Zoom webinar.
In Person Location:
Vermont Law School, Oakes Hall Room #110
164 Chelsea St.
South Royalton, Vermont
Map and Directions
Register here to attend either in person or virtually:
https://humanesociety.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1MvwEcyRQMK6WxC-0gCHRA
Please direct questions to Joanne Bourbeau, Northeastern Regional Director, The Humane Society of the United States, 301-529-3378.
Instructors
Trevor Whipple, Chief of Police (Ret.), Law Enforcement Consultant, Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT)
Trevor worked for 38 years as a sworn law enforcement officer, 36 in Vermont. He served as the chief of police in the Vermont cities of Barre and South Burlington before his retirement. During his career Trevor obtained a bachelor’s degree from Johnson State College and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Vermont. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Trevor has served as an instructor at the Vermont Police Academy since 1984, is a member of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, and is also a member of the adjunct faculty at the Community College of Vermont. He currently serves as the law enforcement consultant for VLCT. He has been teaching various courses on animal welfare investigations for the past 15 years.
Sally Adams, Esq., Chief Deputy State’s Attorney, Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office
Sally earned her law degree from Vermont Law School in 2009. She worked as a defense attorney from 2009 to 2016, an Assistant Attorney General from 2016 to 2017 and as Chittenden County’s designated animal cruelty prosecutor since 2017. Sally serves as the State’s Attorneys’ and Sheriffs’ Association representative to the Animal Cruelty Investigations Advisory Board, and in her free time is a member of the Board of Directors at the Humane Society of Chittenden County. She has attended national trainings on prosecution of animal cruelty cases and regularly counsels law enforcement and prosecutors on the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases in Vermont.
Joanne Bourbeau, Northeastern Regional Director, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Joanne has been with the HSUS, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, since 1995. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of New Hampshire and a certificate in non-profit business management from Johns Hopkins University. She is a graduate of the National Cruelty Investigations School offered by the University of Missouri’s Law Enforcement Training Institute School of Law. Joanne counsels local & state law enforcement agencies, municipal officials, and shelter personnel on the investigation of animal cruelty cases and is a regular instructor of Animal Welfare Investigations at the Vermont Police Academy.
