Charlottesville Police Department
The Charlottesville Police Department (CPD), officially know as the City of Charlottesville Police Department, is the municipal law enforcement agency of Charlottesville, Virginia. It has seven patrol districts with more than 100 sworn officers who patrol the entire city. The department serves a daytime population of approximately 100,000 people; including 46,000 city residents, 30,000 commuters, and 22,000 University of Virginia students.
Organization
Office of the Chief
Assistant Chief of Police
CPD is divided into three divisions: Field Operations, Criminal Investigations and Support Operations.
Field Operations Division
Criminal Investigations Division
Support Operations Division
Headquarters
The Charlottesville Police Department is headquartered at 606 E Market Street in Downtown Charlottesville - adjacent to the site of the "old" Armory which was torn down around 1970. The CPD headquarter and the Market Street Garage occupy the site of both the armory and “old” City Hall. In 2019, the police headquarters on Market Street was reported to have issues with mold detected in the basement. [1]
Satellite police stations
UVA Corner
Dale Avenue
Hardy Drive
Working Relationship with Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
CPD maintains a cooperative relationship with the University of Virginia Police (UPD) and the Albemarle County (ACPD) police departments. This includes intra-operative radio capability and a joint police records computer system, training programs, special events coordination, joint investigation of serious incidents, and the shared 911 Center. The Charlottesville City Police and Albemarle County Police have arrest authority on UVA Grounds.
CPD has relationships with Virginia law enforcement agencies, such as the Virginia State Police (VSP) and Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and several federal agencies, most commonly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the United States Secret Service.
Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB)
Since 2008, the police department has been overseen by a citizen’s advisory panel. However, the effectiveness of this board has been called into question. Council discussed a new independent panel on November 20, 2017. [2] [3] Refer to the Civilian Review Board page for more information.
Mission, Values, and Vision
The Mission of the Charlottesville Police Department is to improve the quality of life of citizens living, working or visiting the city.
Mission statement
"The Department's mission is to provide the citizens of the City of Charlottesville with a modern and professional police department which will protect life and property; preserve law and order; enforce criminal, traffic, and regulatory laws; and, provide essential public safety services to our community."
History
The Charlottesville Police Department (CPD) was organized in 1888. In the 1969-70 city budget police Department was allocated approximately $640,000, held a staff of 65 and was supported entirely by City tax funds.[4] CPD has been involved in various events in history, such as the 1905 murder trial of J. Samuel McCue; murder trial of Jesse Matthew, accused of killing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington in 2009 and University of Virginia student Hannah Graham in 2014; the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally; murder trial of self-described neo-Nazi James Fields convicted of killing Heather Heyer.
Divisions and Units (2009)
Source:Charlottesville Police Department[5]
- Support Services Division
- Investigations Bureau
- Forensics Unit
- Neighborhood Services Bureau
- School Resource Officer Unit
- Traffic Unit|Traffic Unit
- Crime Prevention Unit
- Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force
- Investigations Bureau
- Field Operations Division
- Patrol Bureau
- S.W.A.T.
- Crisis Negotiation Team
- Administrative Services Bureau
- Crime Analysis Unit
- Staff Development and Accreditation Unit
- Internal Affairs Unit
- Information and Management Services
- Technical Investigative Support Unit
List of Chief of Police
Charlottesville incorporated as a town on July 19, 1801 and officially became a city in 1888, when it incorporated and annexed surrounding Albemarle County land. In the City's council-manager form of government, the Chief of Police reports directly to the City Manager. In recent years, Council has taken an advisory role in appointing the Chief of Police (and the City Attorney).
| Name | Term Start | Term End | Years of Service | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spottswood M. Keller | 1888 | 1898ǂ | Died in office on February 15, 1898[6] | |
| John Waters | 1898 | 1900 | ||
| Frank P. Farish | 1900 | 1902 | Died in office | |
| T. Alonzo Trice | 1902 | 1914 | 12 | |
| D. C. Grady | 1914 | 1917 | ||
| Z. L. Damron | 1917 | 1918 | ||
| A. L. Henderson | 1918 | |||
| Z. L. Damron | 1925 | |||
| I. Lindsay Leafe | May 4, 1926 | |||
| Maurice F. Greaver | May 5, 1926 (acting) | 1953 | 27 | |
| James E. Adams | 14 | |||
| Connie O. Durham | 3 | |||
| John DeKoven Bowen | 23 | |||
| John M. Wolford | 3 | |||
| Julian W. “Buddy” Rittenhouse | 4 | |||
| Timothy J. Longo, Sr | 2001 | 2016 | 15 | |
| Alfred S. Thomas, Jr | 2016 | 2018 | 2 | |
| RaShall M. Brackney | 2018 | 2021 | ||
| Vacant | 2021 | 2023 | ||
| Michael P. Kochis | 2023 |
Recent Timeline of Charlottesville Chief of Police appointments
2016
- April 18: City Manager Maurice Jones announced Lexington Police Chief Al Thomas as his pick to head the Charlottesville Police Department, and Charlottesville City Council (2016-2017) approved Thomas, who is the city’s first black police chief. Thomas was one of 63 applicants, says Jones, in a search that was “deep” and involved three rounds of interviews. [7]
- May 23: Police Chief Al Thomas started the new job.
2017
- December 18: Serving less than two years, Police Chief Al Thomas resigned. The city issued a release this Monday afternoon that said Thomas would be retiring, effective immediately. At the last regular meeting of the Charlottesville City Council (2016-2017), City Manager Maurice Jones's announced choice of Deputy Chief Gary Pleasants as acting chief until an interim one could be named, drew complaints. Speakers at the council blasted the decision. “I think this is unacceptable,” said councilor-elect Nikuyah Walker. “There is no trust here.”
2018
- May 15: City Manager Maurice Jones recommended RaShall M. Brackney to replace Al Thomas as Charlottesville’s chief of police. Jones said Brackney was the top choice out of 169 applicants.
- May 16: In a Facebook Live video, Mayor Nikuyah Walker expressed concerns she had with the police chief selection process. In the video, Walker said there is a disconnect between the City Manager, the City Council and other leaders in Charlottesville. “We were kept out of the process,” she said, referring to the search for a police chief. “Council was not able to participate at every stage of this process.”
- May 21: At its regular Monday meeting, the Charlottesville City Council (2018-2019) formally considered Dr. Brackney's appointment. The council approved a resolution blessing the decision of City Manager Maurice Jones to hire her.[8]
- June 18: Dr. RaShall M. Brackney was sworn in by Charlottesville Circuit Court Clerk Llezelle Dugger as Charlottesville’s next Chief of Police on Monday at 1 p.m. in City Council Chambers. [9]
2021
- Police Chief RaShall Brackney was let go in September. Brackney has since filed a lawsuit against city officials over wrongful termination.
2022
- Latroy A. Durrette, appointed Interim Chief of Police. [10] An active search for a permanent Chief of Police is underway. [11]
2023
- Michael P. Kochis was appointed permanent Chief of Police of the Charlottesville Police Department on January 16, 2023. He succeeded Police Chief RaShall Brackney who left in September 2021.
Strategic Goals (2009)
The Charlottesville Police Department has several key strategic goals as depicted in the 2009 Strategic Plan[12]:
Operational strategies
- Reduction of Open Air Drug Activity and Drug/Gun Related Violence
- Reduce Participation in Street Level Gangs and mitigate the level of violence and criminal behavior associated with gang activity
- Helping to sustain safe and healthy neighborhoods through collaborations, engagement and problem solving
- Creating positive opportunities for our youth while reducing the likelihood of youth related crime and violence
- Strengthening public trust
Internal strategies
- To provide a high level of customer service to both internal and external customers, and to enhance our ability to measure customer service
- Create and sustain a healthy police department
- To recruit and retain the very best candidate that we are capable of identifying
- To develop stronger management and leadership opportunities for the entire organization
- To develop a stronger infrastructure of supporting resources within the department
In the news
In 2010, the police department began charging $150 for escorting funeral processions[13].
Mall Ambassador program
Originally created at the end of 2012 by the Charlottesville City Council as a way to provide more "eyes on the street" to deter crime on the Downtown Mall and to be a resource for tourists. On March 7, 2016, the Charlottesville City Council eliminated the program from the budget and it ended on June 30, 2016. [14]Over a three-year period, the city planned to hire 22 new officers to provide more law enforcement coverage.[15]
References
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville police-court building has mold, leaks, Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 18, 2019, retrieved November 20, 2019. Print. November 18, 2019 page A1.
- ↑ Web. City Council considers creation of an independent police citizen’s review board, Geremia Di Maro, News Article, Cavalier Daily, Charlottesville, Virginia, November 25, 2017, retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ↑ Web. Council moves forward with police review board, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 23, 2017, retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ↑ CITIZEN STUDY PACKET NO. 1 PROPOSED MERGER OF CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ALBEMARLE COUNTY|https://www.jmrl.org/ebooks/Citizen%20Study%20Packet%20No.%201.PDF%7Cwww.jmrl.org›ebooks
- ↑ "Charlottesville Police Department Organizational Chart (2009).Chart. Charlottesville Police Department. Charlottesville Police Department, 21 July 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. http://www.charlottesville.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=12253>
- ↑ Web. VIRGINIA NEWS, Alexandria Gazette. (Alexandria, D.C.), 16 Feb. 1898. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
- ↑ Web. Thomas is Charlottesville’s first black police chief, Lisa Provence, News Article, April 20, 2016, retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ↑ Web. Brackney officially chosen as Charlottesville police chief, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, May 21, 2018, retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ↑ Web. Brackney sworn in as Charlottesville police chief, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, June 18, 2018, retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ↑ Web. Acting Chief Latroy A. Durrette, City of Charlottesville, retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ↑ Web. [https://infocville.com/2022/05/21/charlottesville-opening-up-search-for-new-police-chief/ Charlottesville opening up police chief search], Sean Tubbs, News Article, Town Crier Productions, May 21, 2022, retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ↑ Charlottesville Police Department Strategic Planning Document. Rep. Charlottesville Police Department, 3 Mar. 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. <http://www.charlottesville.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=12916>.
- ↑ Strong, Ted. "City Police Start Charging for Funeral Procession Escorts | Daily Progress." Home | Daily Progress. 30 Aug. 2010. Web. 30 Aug. 2010. <http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/aug/29/city-police-start-charging-funeral-procession-esco-ar-478716/>.
- ↑ Web. Mall ambassador program cut in proposed city budget, Lauren Berg, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 7, 2016, retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Web. Timeline: Major Downtown Mall developments, Staff reports, News Article, The Daily Progress, retrieved September 19, 2020.