Rutland City Police Sergeant Receives Probation for 2023 Shooting Incident
A former police sergeant in Rutland City, identified as Andrew Plemmons, has been sentenced to two years of probation following a 2023 incident where he shot two men while on duty. The Vermont Superior Court in Rutland handed down the sentence, which includes 100 hours of community service, as per a statement from the Vermont attorney general’s office.
Plemmons, aged 47, faced a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, to which he pled guilty. Under the terms of his probation, Plemmons will avoid incarceration unless he breaches the probation conditions, which could result in a prison sentence of up to one year.
Since the initial charges were filed by the attorney general’s office in October 2024, Plemmons had been on paid administrative leave, according to Rutland City Police Sgt. Richard Caravaggio. While administrative leave is generally paid, Caravaggio did not comment on the specifics of Plemmons’ leave.
The police sergeant resigned recently, with his final day being Saturday, as reported by Caravaggio. He also mentioned that it remains uncertain whether the police department will conduct an investigation into the incident, as it is customary to wait until criminal proceedings are concluded before doing so.
Attempts to reach Plemmons’ attorney for comments on Monday were unsuccessful. Court documents previously highlighted by VTDigger reveal that Plemmons faced charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment for the incident that involved shooting at two brothers from Massachusetts. Initially, he could have been sentenced to as much as 16 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
The situation unfolded when Plemmons and another officer approached a vehicle deemed “suspicious” and requested to search it. As one brother attempted to flee by driving away, Plemmons fired at the vehicle, injuring him. Body camera footage referenced in court documents indicates that Plemmons fired again when the second brother took control of the vehicle and continued driving.
The Vermont attorney general’s office decided to file charges against Plemmons, determining that his use of force in shooting at the second brother was “not justified.”
