Virginia News & Announcements
Bedford’s annual ‘Cop Camp’ a big hit
August 13, 2008 | Virginia News
The percussive force of a bomb exploding at the end of a field behind Bedford Middle School shocked some of the children watching.Participants in Bedford’s annual Cop Camp, they watched as Virginia State Police officers detonated charges — in a shoe, a metal can and even on a packaged pig’s foot. The intent is to show how destructive these items are, and what kids should do if they find an explosive.
LaCrosse latino picnic cooks up smiles
August 12, 2008 | Virginia News
LA CROSSE - About 75 people attended a Latino Community Picnic in La Crosse Sunday, the happy result of a sort of social experiment spearheaded by La Crosse Police Chief Rob Hall.Virginia Beach police officer shot and killed
August 8, 2008 | Virginia News
Two men have been charged with first degree murder and use of a firearm in a felony in the fatal shooting of a Virginia Beach detective late Thursday in the city’s Green Run area, police announced today.Detective Michael Smith Phillips, 37, a member of the department's Special Investigations Unit for six years, was shot and killed in the line of duty around 11:15 p.m., August 7, during an undercover operation at the Green Run Shopping Center, spokesman Adam Bernstein said. (Read News Story)
The VACP requests that Virginia law enforcement officers shroud their badges through the day of memorial services for Detective Phillips – Tuesday, August 12.
Tech official: Communication is key to campus security
August 4, 2008 | Virginia News
Communicate first, think later.That was Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker's advice to campus security officials from across Virginia who gathered today at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Hincker said it's important for universities to let their campuses know what's going on quickly or face the consequences later.
Police chief could be named in September
August 1, 2008 | Virginia News
Winchester — City officials hope the second time’s a charm.The Winchester Police Department has gone without a permanent chief for almost a year. A search this year ended with no one being hired for the job.
The second search has produced fewer applicants than the first, but some solid choices, City Manager Brannon Godfrey said.
Training for the unthinkable
July 27, 2008 | Virginia News
Clarke emergency crews practice their response to a shooter in a schoolBERRYVILLE — It’s an alarming situation local emergency officials hope they never have to face — a gunman roaming through a school, shooting at students and staff members.
On Friday, community law enforcement officials and fire and rescue personnel participated in a day-long training session to prepare for a shooting incident in the county’s schools.
Lynchburg area police training to patrol web sites
July 25, 2008 | Virginia News
Social networks like MySpace and Facebook give people a chance to connect with friends and share their lives, but they can also be used to commit crimes.There is little training available for law enforcement officers to investigate crimes like cyber bullying, solicitation, harassment and worse, said Investigator John Romano of the Lynchburg Police Department.
That’s why Romano and his partner Barry Stephens, a computer crimes investigator with the Virginia State Police, partnered to teach police how to investigate crimes involving social networking.
Sending Money Back To Commonwealth Irks Local Governments
July 24, 2008 | Virginia News
BRISTOL, Va. – City leaders learned Wednesday they must repay about $266,000 in state funding and they expect additional cuts could be “devastating,” City Manager Bill Dennison said.Dennison and Mayor Jim Rector discussed the dilemma at the conclusion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, citing the school system and police department as possible targets.
Chesterfield to increase police salaries
July 23, 2008 | Virginia News
Chesterfield County officials have scraped together $900,000 to help the police department raise starting officer salaries and give raises to veterans in an effort to keep Chesterfield competitive with other area jurisdictions.Soliciting on roads could be prohibited
July 22, 2008 | Virginia News
Ordinance would extend to state highways a ban on panhandling, sellingWhile stopped at a busy Henrico County intersection this month, Hariet Newman was unnerved by a group of people wearing official-looking identification badges who were approaching cars for donations. Holding out cans, they told her they were collecting money for an out-of-state organization.
She was surprised when she saw a police car drive by without doing anything.
Because it was on a state road, there wasn't much the officer could do, said Lt. Doug Perry, a Henrico police spokesman.
