<p>A study of the impact and consequences caused by the use of inflammatory racially-related language during a police investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police. Beginning in 1968 with the Irasburg Affair when a White man fired shotgun blasts into a home occupied by a Black family the story</p><p>describes in detail the course of the investigation. Adverse publicity about the Vermont State Police's work alleging racism within its ranks ensued resulting&nbsp;in its managers withdrawing from public view and refusing to work with the legislature in the next years causing significant internal problems.</p><p>They finally came to the forefront in 1979 when a despondent trooper committed suicide at the state house in Montpelier in an event called&nbsp;the Router Bit Affair that led to significant reforms beginning in1980. Includes bibliographical references and an index.</p>