Richmond Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting - March 24, 2026
Richmond Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting - March 24, 2026
The Public Safety Standing Committee convened on March 24, 2026, to consider several ordinances, receive public comments, and hear updates from the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA), the Civilian Review Board (CRB), and the Richmond Police Department (RPD). The meeting featured emotional testimony from citizens on retiree benefits, pedestrian safety, business closures, and first responder protection, as well as presentations on crime statistics, ambulance funding, and civilian oversight progress.
Consent Calendar
- Ordinance 2026-057: Accept $225,388 from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) for the Police Ceasefire Special Fund to support violent crime overtime, hire a gun violence analyst, and send officers to training. Chief Rick Edwards confirmed RPD has 604 sworn officers of an authorized 755.
- Ordinance 2026-058: Amend the FY26 special fund budget by increasing anticipated revenues by $2 million from fines/fees collected from the safety camera program, creating a Safety Camera Program Special Fund. Chief Edwards noted the program costs ~$500,000 annually in personnel and supports the Vision Zero Action Plan.
- Ordinance 2026-072: Accept $150,000 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) to create a new special fund for the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) to implement a transcription service for radio transmissions. Jackie Krautz (Deputy Director, Technology Division) confirmed that communications officers can review AI-generated transcriptions for accuracy.
- All three ordinances were moved in a block and approved unanimously (Ayes: Ms. Abu Baka, Chair Trammell).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cheryl Nietzsche (retired Richmond Police Officer) spoke about the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees, noting she receives $96.34 per month and that a 1% COLA would add only 96 cents. She urged the committee to address the issue, citing a 2022 report that suggested no COLA until 2029 or 2030.
- Kathy Burrell (9th District resident) described the fatal hit-and-run of her daughter, Lauren, on November 29, 2025, and the lack of charges against the driver. She called for stronger consequences for drivers in pedestrian fatalities, stating, "Mow my 126-pound daughter down with a 300-pound car is not an accident. It is a crime." Chair Trammell expressed sympathy and promised to investigate further with the city attorney and police chief.
- Ezad al-Shami (Yemeni American Association president) criticized the city's enforcement actions under "Operation Vaporized," which shut down 47 vape shops. He argued that closures were inconsistent, lacked clear notice, and that businesses that made corrections remained closed without a clear path forward. He also stated that a meeting scheduled with the mayor was canceled after they requested to bring more than six representatives. He disputed claims that business owners lacked proper documentation, noting all required permits were obtained.
- Brad Hughes (former Virginia State Police officer) recounted being struck by a distracted driver while assisting at a crash scene in 2014. He urged the city to increase fines and penalties for violations of the Move Over Law, referencing a July 2025 incident where four Richmond Fire Department members were injured on I-95. He noted current fines are $500 and a six-month license suspension.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Ordinance 2026-059: To amend city code to route emergency medical 911 calls for EMS to the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA). Tori Meade (Deputy Director, DEC) provided an overview of operational and fiscal impacts, noting that the current process adds about one minute to call handling and requires callers to repeat information. Chip Decker (CEO, RAA) spoke in support, citing that RAA is an accredited center of excellence and that data shows higher call-answering performance for medical emergencies under RAA compared to DEC. Councilmembers expressed support while noting the need for continued collaboration. The ordinance was moved to council with a recommendation to approve (Ayes: Ms. Abu Baka, Chair Trammell).
- RAA Annual Report and Leasing Update: Chip Decker reported that RAA responded to 61,000 calls in 2025, with 43,000 transports and a 98.5% patient satisfaction score. He highlighted the budget challenge: $28 million in expenses, with only $18.9 million in expected revenue due to a payer mix dominated by Medicare/Medicaid (76% of transports) and 12% uninsured. He requested $10 million in subsidies but noted the proposed budget includes $7.6 million plus $1 million for purchasing two ambulances, while seven are needed. He explained that leasing ambulances costs $700,000 annually in interest, and that the city's shift to leasing has created inefficiencies. Discussion ensued about collection rates (23% of billed $88 million) and the impact of rising ambulance prices (14.4% increase).
- Civilian Review Board (CRB) Progress Update: Manager Joe Lowry reported that the CRB, established by ordinance in 2022 and approved SOPs in September 2025, consists of eight members (four appointed by council, four by mayor). The board has completed training, reviewed its first case, and has three pending. Complaints are screened by a subcommittee; eligible cases go to the full board requiring a 6/8 vote. The board meets monthly at various locations and publishes agendas and minutes online. Plans include issuing summary reports within 60 days of case review, which will be shared with the city attorney and police chief before public release. The CRB has also conducted outreach via district meetings and has an active website.
- RPD Update from Chief Rick Edwards: Violent crime is down 6% year-to-date; homicides down 36%, non-fatal shootings down 24%, and commercial robberies down 63%. Chief Edwards attributed the drop in commercial robberies partly to the closure of many vape shops. Property crimes are flat. He also discussed the March 7 car takeovers in the 1st District and a coordinated operation on March 21 that resulted in 11 stops, 10 misdemeanor arrests, one felony charge, and two vehicles towed for exhibition driving. He highlighted a new state law (Virginia Code § 46.2-865) allowing impoundment of vehicles used in exhibition driving for up to 20 days, with costs borne by the owner. The chief noted that such events can escalate to violence, as seen in a recent Virginia Beach incident where seven people were shot.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items (Ordinances 2026-057, 2026-058, 2026-072) were forwarded to the full council with a recommendation to approve (unanimous vote).
- Ordinance 2026-059 (routing medical 911 calls to RAA) was forwarded to the full council with a recommendation to approve (unanimous vote).
- The committee received updates from RAA, CRB, and RPD; no formal votes were taken on these items.
- Chair Trammell directed staff to follow up with the city attorney and police chief regarding the pedestrian fatality case raised by Kathy Burrell and to explore potential policy changes.
- The next meeting is scheduled for April 2026, with requested reports from DPW on graffiti and illegal dumping.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. We were now called to order this meeting of the public safety standing committee. I will now begin by reading the chamber emergency evacuation announcements and public speaker guidelines. Upon activation of the emergency alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building. Please use the exit to the left, right, or front of the council chamber or the east or west stairware outside of the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. After exiting the building, security would direct everyone down ninth street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot. Able persons should assist visually inheriting pay visitors with exiting the building. Persons wish to speak during a public comment period or public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before the committee are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures, use language or personal nature, which is also demeans any person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are not related to the official duties, or just to question staff members directly. All questions need to be directed to the committee chair, fair to hear to the guidelines, may resort in speakers forfeiting any and many time, and further disciplinary action as necessary, which can include barring from attendance at future means of the committee for a period of six months. Public comment will follow after item one ordinance twenty twenty-six zero fifty-seven to accept funds of two hundred and twenty-five thousand three hundred and eighty-eight dollars from the Department of Criminal Justice Services and to appropriate the increase of the FY twenty-six special fund budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriate to Department of Police Police Operations Ceasefire Special Fund for the purpose of improving community safety. Item two, ordinance twenty twenty-six zero fifty-eight to amend ordinance number twenty twenty-five zero fifty-seven, which adopted the FY26 special fund budget by increasing anticipated revenues by two million dollars from certain fines and fees collected from the safety camera program, creating a new special fund for the Department of Police entitled the Safety Camera Program Special Fund for the purpose of funding the safety camera program envisioned zero action plan and item four ordinance twenty twenty-six zero seventy-two to accept funds off of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and to amend the FY twenty-six special fund budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Emergency Communications Preparedness and Response called the FY26 NG 911 additional funding special fund for the purpose of implementing a transcription service for radio transmission. Those papers are before the committee and will be considered in a block. Do we have anyone that would like to provide the committee with any description of the following papers? Good afternoon, Chair Trammell. Rick Edwards, the chief of police for the city of Richmond. I'll speak to ordinance 26-057. This funding will be used from DCGS by RPD to assist in violent crime overtime. We'll also be utilizing that to hire a gun violence analyst and send officers to additional training to combat gun violence. Particularly, as I mentioned before, we have a program starting on Friday called Spring Forward, where we will have additional officers in high crime neighborhoods during RPS's spring break over that 10-day period to ensure our youth are safe and sound during that specific time period. Happy to answer any questions related to this specific topic. Just one question. Chief, how many officers are you are you on staff right now? We have 604 sworn officers. How many? 604. And how many you're supposed to have? We're authorized strength is 755. Thank you. No more question. Thank you. Is there anyone from the city administration I would like to provide the committee with a description of item for item four? What the purpose of item four? Jackie Krautz, Deputy Director for the Technology Division, Emergency Communications Preparedness Response. For me, no. Do you have any questions? Just one question. Is there going to be since you're using AI to transcribe? Is there going to be a human element that reviews those transcriptions to ensure accuracy? The transcriptions is going to be able to the communication officer will be able to review the transcriptions and basically if they miss something, they can go back and they can search and pick up a word or whatever was maybe missed. And correct it. Would not necessarily correct it, but basically reinforce what they heard. Okay. Okay, thank you. All right, we would now move on to the public hearing for these items. Is there anyone that would like to speak in support of item one, two, or four? State anyone that would like to speak in opposition of items one, two, and four. Seeing none of the public hearing is now closed, bring it back to the committee. Did anyone from city administration provide a description for item two ordinance 2026 058, or was that for only 2026 057?
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