[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3175-S3176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL SCHIRLING

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is with great appreciation and a touch 
of sadness that I note the pending retirement of Michael Schirling, who 
has served as police chief of the city of Burlington, VT, with great 
distinction for the last 7 years.
  His youthful appearance belies the fact that Chief Schirling has been 
with the department for more than 25 years, first serving as an 
auxiliary officer while still attending the University of Vermont.
  Chief Schirling has held many titles over those years: patrol 
officer, detective, investigator, director, commander, deputy chief, 
and finally chief. In other words, this Burlington native rose through 
the ranks. And throughout this impressive career, Chief Schirling has 
always sought a better way to do the job.
  Earlier in his career, he co-founded the Vermont Internet Crimes 
Against Children Task Force, which recognized the potential for abuse 
as the Internet came of age. The task force has been critical to the 
investigation and prosecution of high-technology crimes that target 
those who are most vulnerable.
  After he took reins of the department, Chief Schirling grew concerned 
that officers were spending too much time on paperwork and data entry, 
taking precious time away from policing. In response he designed his 
own dispatch and records management software system. The Valcour 
system--

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named after an island with historical significance on Lake Champlain--
was launched in 2011. Not only has it proven more efficient, it has 
resulted in enormous cost savings for his department and others 
throughout Vermont that have since adopted it.
  But perhaps most important, Chief Schirling has been a leader in 
understanding the importance of community policing. He stepped up foot 
patrols around the neighborhoods, stressing the importance of public 
engagement. He hosted community outreach events, including barbeques 
and monthly coffee sessions. He developed data-driven policing efforts 
to track the hot spots for crime. He implemented a street outreach 
program in coordination with the local mental health agency. The list 
goes on, but it is fair to say that the work of Chief Schirling will 
leave its mark on our State's largest city for many years to come. 
Chief Schirling recognized the value of 21st century policing long 
before we heard the term. For these reasons, I have often called on 
Chief Schirling to share his experience and ideas in testimony before 
the Senate Judiciary Committee. His guidance on issues of critical 
importance, including his support for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership 
Program, has been invaluable over these years.
  Chief Schirling and the Burlington Police Department recently marked 
the 150th anniversary of the department, and I was grateful to be a 
part of that celebration. As he prepares for retirement, I have no 
doubt there is another chapter for Chief Schirling still to be written. 
I will eagerly await his next move.

                          ____________________