U.S. Senate Confirms Vermont Police Veteran As State's New U.S. Marshal

October 08, 1999

WASHINGTON (Oct. 8) -- The U.S. Senate Thursday night confirmed Col. John H. Sinclair, director of the Vermont State Police, as Vermont's new U.S. Marshal.

Sinclair's nomination was suggested in June to President Clinton by Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vermont's senior U.S. Senator and the Ranking Member (Democratic leader) of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nomination. Leahy steered Sinclair's nomination through unanimous approval last week by the Committee and then through Sinclair's unanimous Senate confirmation last night. Sinclair, the state force's highest-ranking uniformed officer, becomes the 34th U.S. Marshal in Vermont's history and succeeds Jack Rouille, who retired this year after having served in the post since 1994.

"John Sinclair is a strong addition to our law enforcement team in Vermont," said Leahy. "He is one of Vermont's finest."

Leahy and Sinclair first met nearly 30 years ago when Sinclair was a new state trooper and Leahy was Chittenden County's new state's attorney, and they worked closely together on investigations and in trials and on law enforcement education. In recommending Sinclair for the post in June, Leahy told the President in a personal conversation and in subsequent communications, "I have watched his career for three decades" and that Sinclair is "perfectly suited" for the job.

A 30-year veteran of the Vermont State Police, Col. Sinclair has served as a uniformed trooper at both the Colchester and Bethel Barracks, later joining the Fraud Unit, the Governor's security detail, and then was promoted to the post of Station Commander at the Brattleboro Barracks. He also has commanded both the Criminal Division and the Field Force. In 1996 he was appointed director of the Vermont State Police, the department's highest-ranking uniformed post. He attended the University of Vermont, and he and his wife, Barbara, live in Charlotte and have two sons.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation's oldest federal law enforcement agency. The U.S. Marshal's duties include protecting the security of federal courts, judges and witnesses; apprehending federal fugitives; processing of federal writs and orders; transportation and security of prisoners waiting for trial or other court proceedings; and managing federal criminal asset seizure and forfeiture programs. Federal marshals execute more federal arrest warrants than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. The U.S. Marshal's Office in Vermont closely coordinates its work with state and local law enforcement agencies.