The Vermont Corrections Department is delaying the release of one of the states most dangerous career criminals

The Vermont Corrections Department is delaying the release of one of the state’s most dangerous career criminals from prison into Essex County following a large pushback from taxpayers and law enforcement. Harley Breer Jr., 55, was scheduled to be furloughed from the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport in the coming days, but Wednesday the Vermont Corrections officials said the plan had a last-minute postponement. Corrections Commissioner Nick Deml said Wednesday that he had ordered Breer’s planned release from prison to be put on hold. Deml said he wanted it “paused to allow us time to meet with relevant law enforcement officials in Essex County to discuss the public safety concerns in this case.” There has been a huge blowback from the public after the news story initially broke. Essex County State’s Attorney Vince Illuzzi had said on Tuesday he was miffed to have to learn from a reporter that Breer was soon headed to live in Canaan, which has limited police service. There also are no state probation officers or an office in Essex County, Illuzzi said. Canaan is a remote town that borders both New Hampshire and Canada in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Illuzzi had said on Tuesday he wanted the Corrections Commissioner to reconsider Breer’s furlough plan to Canaan.