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City of Richmond Selects New Police Chief
- By: VACP
- On: 07/19/2023 16:37:53
- In: Virginia News
After a nationwide search, the City of Richmond has named Acting Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards as it's next police chief. Edwards has nearly 24 years of law enforcement experience with RPD and will be sworn in on Wednesday, July 24.
Richmond, VA – After a nationwide search, the City of Richmond has named Acting Chief Richard “Rick” Edwards as the city's new police chief. Edwards has nearly 24 years of law enforcement experience with the Richmond Police Department.
“After numerous interviews, community surveys, and conversations with partners and stakeholders, Rick stood out among all the applicants,” said Lincoln Saunders, the City of Richmond's Chief Administrative Officer. “He brings decades of experience to this role and has a solid reputation throughout the region. We are excited about his leadership and his commitment to further improving our community.”
Since being appointed as Interim Police Chief, Rick Edwards has worked tirelessly to re-establish trust both within the department and the community. He has implemented new core values, updated policies, and initiated the new body-worn camera release policy. His experience ranges from operational and administrative aspects of policing, including patrol operations, criminal investigations, developing strategies for crime reduction and community engagement, and responding to and addressing security threats.
“I am honored to be selected as the new police chief for The City of Richmond,” Rick Edwards said. “Our goal will be to continue to make the city a safe place for our residents and visitors. I am committed to leading an efficient, well-managed department that is rooted in service to the Richmond community.”
“As Interim Chief, Rick Edwards has been an incredible leader for the City of Richmond. His almost 24 years with RPD have prepared him to meet the challenges our community faces,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “Rick understands that public safety is at its best when it involves members of the community and law enforcement. I can think of no one better suited for this role at this time than Chief Rick Edwards. I look forward to continuing our work to serve the public and address the pressing public safety issues of our city.”
The City of Richmond would like to thank the PoliHire, the City's Human Resources Department, and the interview panel for their cooperation and diligence throughout the selection process. Most importantly, the City thanks its residents for their patience. The process was a strenuous one that included panel interviews, one-on-one interviews, along with extensive background checks.
The Process
In March 2023, the City of Richmond engaged POLIHIRE to lead an executive search to identify the next Chief of the City's Police Department.
POLIHIRE announced the position via its networks and relevant platforms on April 4, 2023.
To better understand what the community of Richmond hoped for in a Police Chief, POLIHIRE spoke with members of the City Council as well as with leaders in the greater Richmond community. POLIHIRE also created a survey specifically for the staff of the Richmond Police Department.
POLIHIRE received and processed 26 applications for the Police Chief position. Of those 26 applicants, POLIHIRE conducted initial screenings of the most qualified and identified four to move forward in the process. Of the four invited for interviews, three accepted the invitation to proceed.
Interviews were held during the week of July 10, 2023. 10 leaders of both the City government and the broader Richmond community were invited to participate on the interview panel; 9 accepted.
Following the interview process, the panel unanimously determined that Interim Chief Edwards was the perfect choice to be Police Chief and to continue to lead the men and women of the Richmond Police Department. They noted that he was very well prepared and expressed a strong desire to lead the police force.
The official Swearing-In Ceremony will be Monday, July 24, 2023 at 2PM in the Council Chambers.
Source: https://www.rva.gov/press-releases-and-announcements/news/new-police-chief