Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police | Virginia News

Portsmouth police chief resigns

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:06:00 -0500

Chief Edward Long, who headed the police department since September 2006, resigned effective immediately, the city manager’s office announced Tuesday evening.

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Cops to ride for those killed on duty

Sat, 03 May 2008 14:24:00 -0500

Each bicyclist will make the 250-mile trek in the memory of a specific officer.

JAMES CITY - Since January, James City County Police Officer Hal Diggs has been preparing himself to bike 250 miles. He knows it won't be easy.

Even in training, his body tires after a while. His legs get sore. That's when he starts thinking of Mark Bedard. Just repeating the name of the Minnesota officer who was killed last year during a car pursuit helps him keep going, he said.

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ABC board can now close gang ‘hangouts’

Sat, 03 May 2008 13:34:00 -0500

Officials working to curb gang activity in Virginia have a new tool at their disposal – a law that lets them strip alcohol licenses from businesses that permit criminal gangs to use their property as hangouts.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed a bill that gives the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that power during a Friday meeting of a state anti-gang panel he created nearly two-years ago.

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VSP First Sergeant Haygood passes away

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:33:00 -0500

First Sergeant Mark A. Haygood, 44, of Midlothian, Va., passed away peacefully Thursday, May 1, 2008 at St. Mary's Hospital. He is survived by his devoted wife, Terri K. Haygood; loving children, Rebecca, Riley, Peyton, and Jacob; his parents, Charles H. and Catherine I. Haygood; one sister, Cindy L. Horne; also two nieces and five nephews.

Lynchburg Officer Branham loses brief battle with cancer

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:57:01 -0500

It is with great sadness that the Lynchburg Police Department announces the death of Police Officer William C. Branham.

Officer Branham, age 26, passed away the morning of April 30 after a brief battle with cancer. Officer Branham was a seven year veteran with the department having served as a cadet, patrol officer and traffic safety officer. He is survived by his wife, April, and two daughters ages 2 years and 8 months.

Prince William Votes To Change Immigration Enforcement

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:06:00 -0500

MANASSAS, Va. -- The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted late Tuesday to make a change to its controversial immigration policy.

Under the county's crackdown on illegal immigrants, police could check the immigration status of anyone they stopped. Supervisors voted Tuesday that the immigration status of anyone who is arrested should be checked before the person gets a bond hearing. The checks will no longer be done simply because of probable cause, officials said.

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Crime Commission Won’t Offer Advice After Gun Show Study

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:42:00 -0500

The Virginia State Crime Commission has agreed to study private sales at gun shows, which are made without background checks. But members have already made clear that they don't plan to do anything about the issue.

The 13-member panel said it will not make a recommendation for legislation to the General Assembly on the contentious issue after the commission meets to receive a draft of the report in September.

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Ashland’s new police chief is ready to serve

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:57:00 -0500

As Ashland's new police chief, Doug Goodman plans to continue proactive traffic enforcement, bear down on drug crimes and keep plans for more youth activities in motion.

Town Manager Charles Hartgrove chose Goodman, who joined the department as a captain in August, to replace Tom Clark, who came out of retirement with the Henrico County Division of Police to serve as interim chief after Frederick Pleasants Jr. resigned in 2006. Clark will return to retirement June 30. Goodman takes the reins the next day.

Goodman, 36, came to the department from the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, where he worked for 14 years.

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Police staffing, funding lag in Blacksburg

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:17:00 -0500

Town council approved four new officers and a dispatcher, but a study shows the town needs 11 new officers and four dispatchers.

As state and local law enforcement funding tightens and recruitment of officers becomes more difficult, Blacksburg police struggle to deal with rising rates of drug crime and violence that follow with the rapid urbanization of Virginia's largest town.

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U.S. Supreme Court allows search and seizure in Virginia case

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:03:00 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police can conduct searches and seize evidence after arrests that sometimes violate state law.

The unanimous decision comes in a case from Portsmouth, Va., where city detectives seized crack cocaine from a motorist after arresting him for a traffic ticket offense.

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Copy of Supreme Court Decision