[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 276-277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RICHARD GAUTHIER

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I would like to recognize Richard 
Gauthier, Chief of Police in Bennington, VT. Mr. Gauthier has been 
saving lives and protecting Vermont communities for nearly 30 years.
  Chief Gauthier began his career with the Bennington Police Department 
in 1980 after graduating from the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. 
Six years later, he was promoted to detective, and in 1998, he was 
named chief of the department, a position he has held for the past 12 
years.
  Chief Gauthier received his bachelor's degree from Southern Vermont 
College in 1991, and later attended the FBI National Academy. He also 
holds a master's degree in criminal justice administration from Norwich 
University. As chief, he has led by example and consistently sought to 
improve the department, encouraging officers to seek additional 
education, improve their training and better their performance. He 
currently teaches courses in criminal justice at Southern Vermont 
College, his alma mater, where one former student described him as ``a 
phenomenal educator.''
  During his time as chief, he has overseen a number of positive 
changes in the department and in the community including the formation 
of the Bennington County Child Advocacy Center/Special Victims Unit, of 
which he is a founding member. He also led efforts to specialize police 
investigation into drugs and gangs, and managed the department's move 
to a new police headquarters. A celebrated law enforcement officer, 
Chief Gauthier received the Vermont VFW Law Enforcement Officer of the 
Year in 2005 and the Vermont Commissioner's Award for Service to 
Children and Families.
  Chief Gauthier will celebrate 30 years of service in September, and 
plans to step down as Chief of Police. I commend Chief Gauthier for his 
dedication to the city of Bennington and the State of Vermont. He has 
selflessly given so much to his community.
  I ask unanimous consent that a story from The Bennington Banner about 
Chief Gauthier's career be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Bennington Banner, Jan. 6, 2010]

 BPD's Chief Gauthier Retiring: 30-Year Veteran of Force Plans To Step 
                           Down in September

                          (By Neal P. Goswami)

       Bennington.--Bennington Police Chief Richard Gauthier, a 
     longtime member of the town police force, has informed 
     officials of his decision to retire in the fall.
       The 54-year-old Gauthier, appointed to the post in 1998, 
     will reach the age of 55 and his 30th anniversary with the 
     Bennington Police Department in September.
       ``I do have other goals that I want to achieve, and that 
     would be a good time to start that,'' Gauthier said Wednesday 
     in his downtown office. ``When I came on 30 years ago when I 
     was 25, I made up my mind at that point that I was going to 
     finish here if at all possible, and that's what happened.''
       Gauthier joined the force two days after his 25th birthday, 
     as a patrol officer. Six years later, he joined the Bureau of 
     Criminal Investigations. After 12 years, and having reached 
     the rank of sergeant, Gauthier was tapped by Town Manager 
     Stuart A. Hurd to replace former Chief David Wooden.
       ``He was, I think, in the end, an excellent appointment. It 
     was one of my first major appointments I had to face as town 
     manager and, believe me, I was very, very nervous about it,'' 
     Hurd said Wednesday.
       ``I say, more power to him. I certainly hate to lose him, 
     and I think it's going to be an interesting process to try 
     and replace him,'' he said. ``Overall, there isn't anything 
     bad you can say about Rick Gauthier.''
       Gauthier said his initial goal in police work was to become 
     a detective, but his ambitions grew as he ascended the ranks 
     of the department.
       ``That was as far forward as I was thinking at the time,'' 
     Gauthier said. ``Later on, after I had been at (the Bureau of 
     Criminal Investigation) for a while, I began entertaining the 
     potential, but I was still surprised when I was actually 
     chosen.''
       Hurd said Gauthier was selected from a group of three 
     internal candidates. Gauthier had a degree in criminal 
     justice and as head of the police union had worked well with 
     town officials, Hurd said.
       ``He brought all of those skills and all of those 
     management styles, and in a sense, balance, to the police 
     chief job in Bennington,'' he said.
       Locals involved in the legal system had also vouched for 
     him, Gauthier said.
       ``In talking with people in the law enforcement field--the 
     state's attorney's office, lawyers who had worked with him--
     he really seemed to be heads and tails above everybody else 
     in terms of his knowledge in police work,'' Hurd said.
       For Gauthier, the highlight of his career in Bennington has 
     been the ``ability to help people out that desperately need 
     it at the time.'' As chief, being able to shape the 
     department and focus improvements on training, equipment and 
     the professionalism of the department has been most 
     rewarding, he said.
       Gauthier said the department has made substantial in those 
     areas because of a quality command staff. ``I have what I 
     consider to be a superior staff, a superior supervisory 
     staff, and certainly this is a team effort,'' he said ``We 
     are where we are because we have all worked together and done 
     well.''
       A strong relationship with other town officials has helped, 
     too, Gauthier said.
       ``I'm kind of the envy of a lot of other chiefs around the 
     state. My relationship with (Hurd) is excellent. We've 
     disagreed on a couple of things, but the disagreements have 
     always been kind of minor,'' Gauthier said. ``I've also had 
     what I consider to be a very supportive select board, 
     regardless of the members changing.''
       Hurd agreed that any disagreements the two have had have 
     been ``nothing of merit.''

[[Page 277]]

       ``He's always been a part of the team. He's never been sort 
     of egocentric, or sort of self-centered.
       ``He's always been willing to step up when tough budget 
     times are necessary, and people have to look at their budgets 
     very hard and make tough decisions,'' Hurd said.
       Gauthier said he has tried to encourage the officers he 
     commands to ``seek constant improvement,'' and hopes that 
     will be a lasting legacy with the department.
       ``I hope that if I leave anything here, it's that 
     continuous quest to improve all the time--improve yourself 
     educationally, improve your performance as an officer, 
     improve your training.''
       He has followed his own advice, earning a master's degree 
     while serving as chief, and may pursue a doctorate degree 
     following his retirement.
       Employment outside of law enforcement is likely, Gauthier 
     said, who already teaches courses at Southern Vermont 
     College. He remains coy, however, about his full plans. 
     ``I've got a number of irons in the fire, and as I get closer 
     to my actual retirement date, it will become clearer which 
     one is the way I should go,'' he said.
       Hurd said he intends to first look within the department to 
     find Gauthier's replacement. The hope is to have someone on 
     board at least 30 days before Gauthier departs, he said.
       The search, once it begins, is expected to take at least 
     two months. Hurd said he will create a review panel composed 
     of himself, some select board members and possibly former 
     Vermont State Police Director James Baker or former 
     Bennington County Sheriff Gary Forrest. The panel will 
     interview potential candidates, compare resumes to the job 
     requirements and conduct a ``deep reference check.''
       ``You're looking for somebody who understands the law, but 
     you're looking for somebody who has the personality to 
     command but also to lead. I think there is a bit of a 
     difference. You can be a good commander, but you might not be 
     a good leader,'' Hurd said. ``Hopefully, I'll be able to find 
     somebody with similar management skills and personality.''
       At least two members of the department are interested in 
     the position, according to people familiar with their 
     thinking. Lt. Paul Doucette, currently second in the 
     department's chain of command, and Detective Sgt. David S. 
     Rowland, the third highest ranking officer in the department, 
     have expressed interest, sources said.
       Hurd said he doesn't expect any long-term negative impact 
     from the internal search. ``If you're goal is to stay and 
     work and be a leader in Bennington then you're going to have 
     to take some disappointment, because there's only going to be 
     one chief. I'm prepared for that, and I think I'll be able to 
     deal with it.''

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