by Timothy Page
On July 16, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council decertified former Vermont State Police officer Zachary Gauthier.
Decertified officers can no longer be employed by police agencies.
In January 2023 Gauthier pled guilty to three misdemeanor charges: Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order, False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities, and Violation of Conditions of Release.
The professional regulation subcommittee of the Council had previously approved charging Gauthier with a Category A violation of unprofessional conduct based on his criminal convictions and the underlying facts. Gauthier, who resigned from the Vermont State Police on April 15, 2022, has not been employed as a law enforcement officer since that date.
During the hearing, Gauthier presented evidence in his defense, attempting to sway the Council’s decision. However, after a deliberative executive session, the Council voted unanimously to permanently decertify Gauthier’s Vermont law enforcement certification. This decision will be reported to the National Decertification Index (NDI), effectively ending Gauthier’s law enforcement career.
In April 2022, Gauthier, then 31 and residing in Weathersfield, was cited on suspicion of animal cruelty and perjury. According to the affidavit of probable cause, in December 2021, Gauthier punched his family’s dog, breaking a knuckle in the process. He later lied under oath during a February 24 court hearing about the cause of his injury.
Additionally, he provided false testimony regarding the presence of alcohol in a vehicle he crashed on October 30, 2021.
The Springfield Police Department also cited Gauthier for violating an abuse prevention order. Following a consultation with the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, Gauthier was cited to appear in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in White River Junction on April 19, 2022. This case was handled by a detective sergeant from outside Gauthier’s assigned area to ensure impartiality.
Gauthier had been serving as a detective trooper at the Westminster Barracks and was placed on paid relief from duty earlier in the year before his resignation. The Vermont State Police have refrained from commenting further on the case, pending the public release of the affidavit of probable cause following Gauthier’s arraignment.
The desertification marks a definitive end to Gauthier’s troubled tenure in law enforcement, ensuring that he will no longer serve in any capacity that requires such certification.