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Public Safety Standing Committee

July 28, 2026 ·1:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 64 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Committee Members in Attendance
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  4. 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker – Member
  5. 3 Public Comment Period
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 Approval of Minutes
  8. 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch – Vice Chair
  9. 5 June 23, 2026 - Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2026.209
  10. 5 Staff and Others in Attendance
  11. 6 Presentation(s)
  12. 6 Greg Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
  13. 7 RPD Semi-Annual Crime Statistics Update
  14. 8 July 28, 2026 - RPD Semi-Annual Crime Statistics Update CD.2026.216
  15. 8 The meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m.
  16. 9 July 28, 2026 - Family Justice Center Update CD.2026.222
  17. 10 Family Justice Center Update
  18. 10 Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
  19. 11 July 28, 2026 - Domestic Crime Statistics - Family Justice Center Update CD.2026.223
  20. 12 page break
  21. 12 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of June 23, 2026, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  22. 13 Paper(s) for Consideration
  23. 14 There were no papers for consideration.
  24. 14 page break
  25. 15 Board Vacancies
  26. 16 July 28, 2026 - Public Safety Board Vacancy Report CD.2026.203
  27. 16 Keith Andes, President of the Richmond Fire Fighters Association Local IAFF 995, addressed the committee regarding the reduction of Richmond Fire Department (RFD) staffing from 118 to 115 firefighters due to budget constraints. He emphasized that three person crews compromise firefighter safety, operational efficiency, and compliance with the “two-in, two-out” standard. He urged the city to prioritize public safety and maintain four person crews.
  28. 17 Discussion Item(s)
  29. 17 Rondell Johnson addressed the committee regarding difficulties recovering personal belongings after his truck was repossessed. He also raised concerns about registration, parking, and accumulating citations and requested assistance resolving these issues.
  30. 18 Calls for Fire and Police Services
  31. 18 Sharon Nguyen addressed the committee regarding greater transparency regarding missing children in Richmond. She called for semiannual public reports with aggregate statistics on missing children, including runaways, custody disputes, and abductions, as well as sex trafficking data to strengthen accountability and protect vulnerable youth.
  32. 19 Staff Report
  33. 19 The committee addressed the concerns raised by the public comment speakers and requested additional information to determine how further assistance could be provided.
  34. 20 July 28, 2026 - Public Safety Staff Report CD.2026.224
  35. 21 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies and applications for consideration by the committee.
  36. 23 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  37. 24 Member Sarah Abubaker moved to forward the following reappointment and appointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Trammell, Abubaker. Noes None.
  38. 25 Civilian Review Board: Rafaella Sale (reappointment)
  39. 26 Community Criminal Justice Board: Helen MacDonald (reappointment) Nicholas Olson
  40. 27 page break
  41. 30 Rick Edwards, Chief of Police, presented Richmond Police Department (RPD) semiannual crime statistics update, reporting overall reductions in violent crime, including a 33% decrease in homicides and a 26% decrease in nonfatal shootings. He noted continued challenges with shoplifting, staffing shortages, and accidental shootings. He highlighted improved clearance rates, recruitment efforts, community engagement, and gun safety initiatives.
  42. 32 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  43. 33 The committee inquired about and requested the following: • A specific reason for the significant decrease in thefts from the previous year • Trends in thefts of firearms from vehicles • Requested that RPD publish the locations participating in National Night Out and provide the information to council members • Asked whether additional technology could help close unsolved homicides
  44. 34 Chief Edwards stated that he could not identify a specific cause for the decrease in thefts and noted that firearm thefts from vehicles had declined. He emphasized the public safety concerns associated with unsecured firearms and suggested distributing free gun safes in affected areas. He stated that the RPD website would be updated with National Night Out locations. He explained that Flock cameras were instrumental in identifying and locating a suspect in the recent attacks. He acknowledged privacy concerns but emphasized the technology’s public safety benefits.
  45. 36 Colette McEachin, Commonwealth’s Attorney provided an update on efforts to establish a Family Justice Center in Richmond. She described the center as a “one-stop shop” where survivors of domestic and family violence could access multi-prong support services.
  46. 37 She highlighted increases in domestic violence and emphasized the need for coordinated services to help survivors and hold offenders accountable. She noted that the YWCA Richmond and other partners would pursue philanthropic, state, and federal funding to supplement city support. She concluded by requesting that city council support funding for a Richmond Family Justice Center.
  47. 38 Rupa Murthy, Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Richmond, highlighted the organization’s longstanding work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She emphasized the need for greater collaboration among law enforcement, courts, and community service providers through a Family Justice Center.
  48. 39 She stated that the proposed center would provide coordinated, survivor centered services in one location, reduce barriers and anxiety for survivors, and improve efficiency and collaboration.
  49. 40 Chief of Police Rick Edwards emphasized that survivors may be less likely to cooperate with prosecution when their basic needs are not being met. He stated that providing comprehensive support through a Family Justice Center would help remove those barriers and improve accountability for offenders.
  50. 43 Copies of the materials provided have been filed.
  51. 44 The committee inquired about and requested the following: • $2 million request for startup costs or the annual operating budget • The cost fluctuate depending on the physical space • How can the Family Justice Center be included in the city’s proposed budget early in the process to ensure adequate funding • Information regarding the connection between domestic violence, sex trafficking, and abductions be shared to help connect the related work and resources • Will a hotline be available through the Family Justice Center • A specific location being considered for the Family Justice Center
  52. 45 Representatives explained that the $2 million request would cover startup costs, with some ongoing expenses, while existing resources and services from partner organizations would also be utilized. They noted that the budget was developed to account for the significant upfront work required to establish the Family Justice Center and expressed a commitment to bringing additional philanthropic, state, and federal resources to support its operations.
  53. 46 They concluded that they are exploring sites near the courthouse and their offices, including the RTD building, which could allow the center to co-locate with Department of Social Services.
  54. 49 Discussion Item(s)
  55. 51 Tory Maye, Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR), provided an update on the quality assurance of emergency police and fire dispatch calls. He reported that DECPR continues to trend positively based on independent case reviews conducted through Priority Dispatch. He noted that DECPR will provide additional information at the next meeting.
  56. 52 The committee raised concerns regarding the use of AI in emergency communications following recent reports of alleged difficulty getting emergency calls answered. The committee requested clarification regarding the use of AI in call-taking and assurance that emergency callers are connected with live dispatchers.
  57. 53 Mr. Maye stated that the DECPR would provide the requested data in September, along with a general overview of its use of AI, noting that AI is currently used only for non-emergency calls.
  58. 54 Chief of Police Rick Edwards reported an incident in which a caller allegedly experienced repeated disconnections when attempting to reach 911. He referred the matter to DECPR to determine whether a technical issue contributed to the problem.
  59. 55 Mr. Maye clarified that GPS location information is available when the caller remains on the line.
  60. 56 Jackie Crotts, Deputy Director of Technology for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, explained that the caller disconnected before reaching a call taker, which triggered the system’s automatic callback. The system prompts the caller to press 1 to confirm that the 911 call was intentional.
  61. 58 Council staff provided the committee with the July Public Safety staff report.
  62. 60 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  63. 61 Adjournment
  64. 62 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.