Northfield (Vt.) Police Chief John Helfant, whose policing background and anti-transgender comments have drawn frequent condemnation, plans to retire in May, according to town officials.Helfant’s resignation became public in a press release posted to.
Northfield Police Chief John Helfant, who has drawn complaints for his public comments about a transgender teen's use of a school locker room, will retire.
John Helfant has publicly sparred with his local school district over its policies concerning transgender students’ rights. His police work was repeatedly called into question by a former state’s attorney.
I recently read “Barred from coaching Randolph soccer team, Northfield police chief claims retaliation” in VTDigger, in which Police Chief John Helfant states his case that the Orange Southwest School District is retaliating for him being transphobic. Although people have a right to express themselves, when you are a volunteer for a soccer team or a police chief of a town, one must represent and respect all individuals in our community, especially those who have been historically marginalized in our society. Another issue that came up in the article was his ability for corruption, as small as it may seem.