A retired police chief from Northfield has agreed to give up his law enforcement certification to avoid a hearing over an unprofessional conduct complaint. The complaint alleged John Helfant improperly directed a police officer from the force to investigate a death more than two years ago despite knowing that the officer was not qualified to do that task.

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council approved a stipulation during a meeting last week with Helfant in which he “voluntarily surrendered” his law certification “with no option of recertification.”

According to the stipulation, council staff received an unprofessional conduct complaint against Helfant related to an incident in January 2023 when he allegedly directed a police officer, Brian Gosselin, to continue an untimely death invest

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