Public Safety Standing Committee

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall

Agenda — 61 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 Richmond Police Department (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. 29 Rick Edwards, Chief of Police, presented RPD semiannual crime statistics, 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.
41. 31 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
42. 32 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 • The publishing of locations participating in National Night Out and provision of the information to council members • Asked whether additional technology could help close unsolved homicides
43. 33 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 stated that the RPD website would be updated with National Night Out locations. He explained that Flock cameras were instrumental in identifying and locating potential suspects. He acknowledged privacy concerns but emphasized the technology’s public safety benefits.
44. 35 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.
45. 36 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 the council support funding for a Richmond Family Justice Center.
46. 37 Rupa Murthy, Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Richmond, highlighted the organization’s longstanding work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 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.
47. 38 Chief of Police Rick Edwards stated 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.
48. 41 Copies of the materials provided have been filed.
49. 42 The committee inquired about and requested the following: • $2 million request for startup costs or the annual operating budget • How the Family Justice Center be included in the city’s proposed budget early in the process to ensure adequate funding • Will a hotline be available through the Family Justice Center • A specific location being considered for the Family Justice Center
50. 43 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. They concluded that they are exploring sites near the courthouse and their offices, including the former Richmond Times Dispatch building, which could allow the center to co-locate with the Department of Social Services.
51. 46 Discussion Item(s)
52. 48 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.
53. 49 The committee raised concerns regarding the use of AI in emergency communications following recent reports of alleged difficulty getting emergency calls answered.
54. 50 Mr. Maye stated that DECPR would provide additional information in September regarding a general overview of its use of AI, noting that AI is currently used only for non-emergency calls.
55. 51 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.
56. 52 Mr. Maye clarified that GPS location information is available when the caller remains on the line.
57. 53 Jackie Crotts, Deputy Director of Technology for DECPR, 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, which the caller did not do.
58. 55 Council staff provided the committee with the July Public Safety staff report.
59. 57 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
60. 58 Adjournment
61. 59 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

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