On Thursday, the Addison County State’s Attorney, Eva Vekos received pushback after sending a controversial email to law enforcement the previous day.NBC5 obtained a copy of the email correspondence from the county’s Sheriff, Michael Elmore. Multiple members of the local law enforcement have called Vekos’s comments “completely unprofessional and disappointing.”The correspondence began when Vekos emailed members of the local police forces to say that her office will now require citations to be given to the court at least 60 days in advance of the court appearance. There are exceptions to this rule laid out in the email.”We hadn’t had any sort of requirements for submitting cases to her until she sent that email,” said Elmore.The rule change comes after Vekos was arrested on Jan. 26th on a DUI refusal charge while at a crime scene in Bridport.Vermont State Police troopers on the scene said they smelled alcohol on Vekos’ breath and she was slurring her words while at the scene. Now, Elmore said he believes that interaction played a role in the new request and questioned the timing of her email.”It’s hard to see how it couldn’t have,” said Elmore. “Just because it came so soon after and it put us in a hard place.”A VSP lieutenant responded to the email, asking Vekos to clarify the topic during the next chief’s meeting.That’s when Vekos replied, saying in part:”Please note that because I no longer feel safe around law enforcement I will join the next Chiefs’ meeting by video,” said Vekos. “This safety issue will conflict with the plan for me to do educational trainings.”The State’s Attorney goes on to say:”Its too bad, I would have loved to teach grammar skills to bring police up to the elementary school level, at least,” said Vekos. “I found a really great illustrated book to use. It has pictures of dragons and stuff.”Elmore said he is concerned about what this means for interactions between law enforcement and Vekos going forward.”I don’t know what prompted that email to us,” said Elmore. “To that degree, everyone that I’ve interacted with here in Addison County is professional, educated. I don’t see a reason why she would all of a sudden be saying that we’re not educated, and we write poorly.”He also said the correspondence makes him uneasy when it comes to executing justice in Addison County.”It does make me concerned about submitting cases to her,” said Elmore. “And I think the rest of the law enforcement here in Addison County feels the same way. Where if she feels this way about us so openly, how can we feel good about sending her cases and feeling like we’re going to have our side portrayed correctly?”Ultimately, at the end of the exchange, Vekos acknowledged that her email was unprofessional and apologized.However, Elmore sent Vekos a letter on Thursday and has filed a complaint with the Judicial Professional Responsibility Board.NBC5 asked Elmore if he thinks Vekos should resign.”I won’t comment on that right now,” said Elmore.NBC5 reached out to Vekos and her attorney, David Sleigh, multiple times on Thursday but did not receive a response in time for the report.
On Thursday, the Addison County State’s Attorney, Eva Vekos received pushback after sending a controversial email to law enforcement the previous day.
NBC5 obtained a copy of the email correspondence from the county’s Sheriff, Michael Elmore. Multiple members of the local law enforcement have called Vekos’s comments “completely unprofessional and disappointing.”
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The correspondence began when Vekos emailed members of the local police forces to say that her office will now require citations to be given to the court at least 60 days in advance of the court appearance. There are exceptions to this rule laid out in the email.
“We hadn’t had any sort of requirements for submitting cases to her until she sent that email,” said Elmore.
The rule change comes after Vekos was arrested on Jan. 26th on a DUI refusal charge while at a crime scene in Bridport.
Vermont State Police troopers on the scene said they smelled alcohol on Vekos’ breath and she was slurring her words while at the scene.
Now, Elmore said he believes that interaction played a role in the new request and questioned the timing of her email.
“It’s hard to see how it couldn’t have,” said Elmore. “Just because it came so soon after and it put us in a hard place.”
A VSP lieutenant responded to the email, asking Vekos to clarify the topic during the next chief’s meeting.
That’s when Vekos replied, saying in part:
“Please note that because I no longer feel safe around law enforcement I will join the next Chiefs’ meeting by video,” said Vekos. “This safety issue will conflict with the plan for me to do educational trainings.”
The State’s Attorney goes on to say:
“Its [sic] too bad, I would have loved to teach grammar skills to bring police up to the elementary school level, at least,” said Vekos. “I found a really great illustrated book to use. It has pictures of dragons and stuff.”
Elmore said he is concerned about what this means for interactions between law enforcement and Vekos going forward.
“I don’t know what prompted that email to us,” said Elmore. “To that degree, everyone that I’ve interacted with here in Addison County is professional, educated. I don’t see a reason why she would all of a sudden be saying that we’re not educated, and we write poorly.”
He also said the correspondence makes him uneasy when it comes to executing justice in Addison County.
“It does make me concerned about submitting cases to her,” said Elmore. “And I think the rest of the law enforcement here in Addison County feels the same way. Where if she feels this way about us so openly, how can we feel good about sending her cases and feeling like we’re going to have our side portrayed correctly?”
Ultimately, at the end of the exchange, Vekos acknowledged that her email was unprofessional and apologized.
However, Elmore sent Vekos a letter on Thursday and has filed a complaint with the Judicial Professional Responsibility Board.
NBC5 asked Elmore if he thinks Vekos should resign.
“I won’t comment on that right now,” said Elmore.
NBC5 reached out to Vekos and her attorney, David Sleigh, multiple times on Thursday but did not receive a response in time for the report.
