Business owners in a New England college town are reportedly nearing a breaking point, as crime continues to affect the downtown area. This situation could potentially become problematic for students’ parents and tourists visiting the area for its autumn foliage.

Officials in Burlington, Vermont, where the University of Vermont is located, have announced they are developing new plans to tackle crime issues in the city center. Business owners have expressed concerns regarding vandalism, theft, and drug activities. While Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has acknowledged the complexity of the issue, she believes that increasing police presence may hinder progress, according to local news station WCAX Channel 3.

Jimmy Baldea, a deputy sheriff from Rutland County, located about 65 miles south of Burlington, shared with Fox News Digital that the mayor should rethink her position, suggesting that a stronger police presence could help maintain order and reduce crime.

“Officer presence is something that I think is one of the best crime deterrents possible,” Baldea told Fox News Digital. “The fact of having police officers in the neighborhood — on the streets, in their cars, clearly visible — police presence is definitely a good crime deterrent.”

“I think that the mayor should definitely consider it as a viable option,” he added.

Baldea noted that when officers are approachable and interact casually with residents in places like stores and gas stations, it can help build trust and make the public more willing to share concerns or tips — allowing officers to proactively address issues.

“Any concerns that do exist can become addressed,” Baldea said. “It’s a partnership thing, and it takes effort on everybody’s part.”

In May, more than 170 businesses in Burlington signed an open letter urging city officials to act on what they described as a growing crisis in the downtown area. They called for a more comprehensive approach to public safety, WCAX Channel 3 reported at the time.

“It’s always been edgy, but it was edgy and fun,” Burlington Business Association’s Kelly Devine told WCAX Channel 3 in May. “Now, it’s edgy and kind of scary, and icky, and we need to fix that.”

As of Aug. 28, Mulvaney-Stanak said that police officers were conducting walkthroughs of the central gathering area of City Hall Park and that she was planning to collaborate with state leaders. 

“I hope that folks will seize upon the restorative justice aspect of this,” Interim Police Chief Shawn Burke said, WCAX reported. “I have done this job long enough to know that we are not going to arrest our way or fine our way out of this crisis.”

Since 2020, the Burlington Police Department has stepped up directed and foot patrols, according to WCAX. And while Baldea pointed out that crime in Burlington is consistent with areas of similar size, he acknowledged that residents have legitimate concerns.

“What we need to focus on is understanding…what we could do to mitigate some of those concerns,” Baldea said. “And truthfully, I’m of the impression that it’s at a local politics level.”

However, Baldea emphasized that Vermont is a “beautiful” place and stressed that tourists should feel safe visiting the state. He pointed out that first responders across the state are highly trained professionals and eager to keep communities safe.

“We don’t want anybody to not want to come to Vermont in fear of any reason,” he said. “I hope that we get ongoing support from our legislators … and I hope the local residents continue to communicate with their elected officials and voice their concerns … because we need that in order to be able to do our jobs.”

Mulvaney-Stanak and the Burlington Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.