Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police | News

Repeal of radar detector ban advancing in Virginia House

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:28:00 -0600

For motorists hankering to zip along the highways unfettered by the heavy hand of law enforcement, this is shaping up to be a very friendly General Assembly session.

Already, the Senate and House of Delegates have voted to raise the speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph, a measure championed by Gov. Bob McDonnell. Now a proposal to repeal Virginia’s longstanding, unique-in-the-nation ban on radar detectors is advancing through the House.

Del. Joe May’s bill, HB 674, was approved 11-8 by the House Transportation Committee this morning and now moves to the House floor. May, R-Leesburg, is the committee chairman.

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Manassas police chief retiring May 1

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:04:00 -0600

MANASSAS, Va.—Manassas police Chief John J. Skinner announced Monday that he will retire May 1. He retired as chief of the Fairfax city department in 1998.

Skinner, who has been chief of the Manassas Police Department for 12 years, said he might try some golf when he and his wife, Shirley, winter in Phoenix but he’s not sure about that.

“I’m going to see in retirement if I have the patience. I know I don’t have the talent,” said the 57-year-old Skinner said of his golfing abilities.

Skinner alsp plans to volunteer and put his experience to use in retirement.

“I hope to do some law enforcement training ... for the feds, for the International Association of Chiefs of Police or the National Sheriff’s Association,” he said. “I have interviewed with Phoenix P.D. I intend to volunteer through their Volunteer In Police Services program.”

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Stafford sheriff has plan to keep deputies

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:12:01 -0600

Some of the things that make Stafford County attractive for job seekers--proximity to Washington, D.C., the Pentagon and Quantico--are challenges for Sheriff Charles Jett.

The Stafford Sheriff's Office, with a staff of 162, hired 18 new deputies last year. Jett said that those 18 came from an applicant pool of 1,983.

While finding deputies is not a problem, keeping them is. Once they are trained and have field experience, they become hot commodities.

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Va. law-enforcement make pleas for no budget cuts

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:55:00 -0600

More than 75 law-enforcement officials from around the state appealed to legislators and Gov. Bob McDonnell to forestall proposed cuts to their agencies.

Former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's budget for 2010-12 proposes $270 million in cuts to sheriff's departments and commonwealth's attorney's offices, in addition to roughly $73 million in cuts to local police departments.

Officials said about 65 percent of Virginians depend on the aid the state provides to localities for their law-enforcement services.

"No local government can absorb that significant an impact and continue to provide the services we do," said Waynesboro Police Chief Doug Davis, VACP First Vice President.

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VACP SURVEY RESULTS: Further 599 budget cuts could lead to layoffs and reduced police services

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:36:00 -0600

Some Virginia police departments could be forced to lay off police officers or discontinue some programs if state budget cuts continue to reduce state aid to localities with police departments.

In a survey conducted by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, local police chiefs were asked this week how proposed cuts to so-called 599 funding, or State Aid to Localities with Police Departments, were affecting their agencies.

McDonnell unveils $50 million job creation agenda

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:22:00 -0600

The plan would be funded, in part, through cuts to the Department of Corrections, and re-directing money from the state employee retirement system. But that leaves the governor in a tricky spot: having to spend $50 million to create jobs, while cutting more than $4 billion in other state spending.

Virginia's budget gap, still requires more cuts to transportation, education, and public safety - which advocates say goes hand-in-hand, with jobs.

"If you don't have a safe community, it's gonna be very difficult to, first of all, provide for safe schools, and also create the incentives to bring businesses into a community that create jobs," said Dana Schrad of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

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MetLife Foundation Announces 2010 Community-Police Partnership Awards Program

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:29:00 -0600

MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the ninth year to recognize, sustain and share the work of innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization.

Through the MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Awards, MetLife Foundation and LISC identify and honor partnerships that exhibit tangible accomplishments in their efforts to advance the process, outcome, and evaluation of potent police-community collaborations. Awards will be given to functioning programs that have already demonstrated the impact of police‐ community partnerships.

Awardees will receive monetary grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,000.

VDH Announces Unintentional Injury Prevention Mini-Grants for FY2010

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:58:00 -0600

Funding is now available for local organizations throughout Virginia to prevent unintentional injuries at the local level among high risk groups through the implementation of proven or promising unintentional injury prevention strategies. Organizations selected will receive funding of up to $1,000 to purchase safety devices and other supplies to support and implement a prevention project.

Click here to download the mini-grant guidance and application.

For more information, contact the Va. Department of Health Division of Injury and Violence Prevention at (804) 864-7732 or

U.Va. Honors Three Officers for Lifesaving Actions

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:51:01 -0600

January 21, 2010 — Three University of Virginia employees — Sgt. Ted Roach of hospital security and U.Va. police officers Keith Berry and Jeffrey Maddra — were honored for their life-saving actions at the U.Va. Police Department's first commendation luncheon, held Wednesday in Newcomb Hall Ballroom.

On Dec. 7, 2007, a 2:30 a.m. call alerted officers to a "jumper" at the East Parking Garage, Pannell said. When he and another officer arrived at the scene, Roach was already there. Despite their efforts to talk the individual down, the man jumped and Roach caught him just as he leapt. Thanks to Roach's actions, this person survived, Pannell said, though Roach sustained a shoulder injury.

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Newport News crime drops for fourth consecutive year

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:40:00 -0600

Sixteen percent drop since 2004

Chief James D. Fox and the entire Newport News Police Department are pleased to report that the number of reported part one crimes, in Newport News, fell for the fourth consecutive year in 2009. When comparing the 2009 figures, crime has fallen 16% when compared to 2004. While any reduction is crime is good, with the economic situation everyone is facing in recent years, the five percent drop for 2009 is significant.