BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont police department has disciplined an officer for using obscene language during a confrontation with a man that led up to a fight, after which the man died.
The confrontation between Burlington Officer Cory Campbell and Douglas Kilburn occurred at University of Vermont Medical Center in March. A police department report of the confrontation stated that Campbell observed Kilburn in his vehicle, blocking an ambulance bay and yelling at staff.
The two then had an argument in which Campbell cursed at Kilburn, and Kilburn punched Campbell in the jaw, after which Campbell used force to subdue Kilburn.
Kilburn was treated at the hospital, charged with disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer, and released the following day. He was found dead at his home two days later.
Kilburn’s cause of death was “undetermined terminal mechanism” due to underlying medical conditions, including hypertension, obesity and skull fractures from the altercation, the chief medical examiner’s office said.
The Burlington Police Department said in a Friday statement that Campbell’s “use of force was lawful and served to stop the threat.” However, his “use of obscenity was a rule violation” against department policy.
Campbell has received “substantial training and retraining in de-escalation techniques” in the months since the confrontation, the department said. He is currently on active duty.
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