Cathy Austrian
Coverage of Cathy Austrian in the Nexus archive.
- Payouts soar as use of force by Burlington police on Black residents hits record high
Burlington has settled five separate lawsuits related to excessive use-of-force since 2019, amounting to nearly $1.5 million in payouts. The department's data shows that Black residents are overrepresented among these use-of-force incidents, at six times the rate of their population share, reaching an all-time high of 99 in 2025. Advocates warn that this record disparity requires immediate attention and a meaningful response from city leadership.
- Mother wins $150,000 settlement against Burlington over police treatment of disabled Black son
A Burlington mother secured a $150,000 settlement against the city over claims of excessive force and racial discrimination by police during a 2021 incident involving her 14-year-old Black son, who has behavioral and intellectual disabilities. The lawsuit, dismissed in May 2024, alleged officers restrained the teen, paramedics used a mesh bag and ketamine to retrieve stolen vapes, and the city initially sought to dismiss the case, which a judge rejected.