CHESAPEAKE
The city's new police chief expects the department to be fully staffed when a class of 37 recruits graduates from the academy this summer. Then he can determine whether Chesapeake has enough officers - and whether they are in the right places.
Kelvin Wright, a 26-year veteran of the city's police department, took over the city's top policing job Tuesday. He replaced Richard Justice, who retired after more than four decades on the force.
One of Wright's first duties is to review the department's procedures, policies and staffing levels. The city announced in January its plans to hire a consultant to help in that process.
"It's a master plan," Wright said, with the goal of ensuring the police department is a "high-performance, high-achievement organization."
The results are expected this summer. But Wright isn't waiting that long to begin some of his own initiatives, including dedicating one person to recruitment within the next month.
Wright has said one of his top priorities is to build a more diverse force.
"Currently, it's a group effort. We do recruitment as needed," he said. That means some within the department are "pulling double-duty."
City Manager William Harrell said in February that he also expected the new chief to have a plan for combating crime in the city's 2nd Precinct, which includes the areas of South Norfolk and Indian River.
Neighborhood leaders there, such as Sunrise Hills Civic League President Harry D. Powell Jr., said Wright already has been helpful.
"We've been concerned here in Sunrise Hills. We think we should have more police officers," Powell said. "This is something we hope Chief Wright will take a look at."
Wright said he wants more resources dedicated to attacking "hot spots," or high-crime areas.
Those places are ever-changing, Wright said in an interview last week. But a new crime analysis software program called CrimeView would help the department identify such areas "as soon as the data comes in from patrol."
That information also would be available to the public, he said.
Wright spent the mid-1990s as the 2nd Precinct's executive officer, and was the commander when he made captain in 1998.
He also was involved in a community policing pilot program in which officers worked directly with residents. He spent a year in the special investigations division, which involved vice and narcotics.
"It opened my eyes up to the effects of drugs on children, families, the community," Wright said. "Drugs are still an issue. Drugs spin off other crimes."
Wright, a native of Portsmouth, comes on as chief months after Detective Jarrod Shivers was shot and killed while serving a drug search warrant.
Critics lambasted the decision to serve the warrant after police charged Ryan Frederick, the man accused of killing Shivers, with first-offense marijuana possession.
Frederick also was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm.
"It is before the courts. Anything I say can jeopardize his chance of getting a fair trail," Wright said.
However, "I believe in being as open as much as I can, in transparency as much as the law allows. We always evaluate ourselves. Sometimes we determine there is nothing we can do differently."
The new chief wants to eventually equip all officers with devices worn on uniforms that take video and audio, because most citizen contact occurs outside vehicles.
"These are slightly less expensive than cameras in cars," Wright said.
But first on his list is a survey that will ask 600 people about their concerns and their impressions of police services they have received.
"We're going to be proactive," Wright said. "I believe in including stakeholders. All of our problems are people problems. Therefore, they require a people solution.
"It sounds obvious and simple. But if you approach it that way, you can work it out."
Staff writer Mike Saewitz contributed to this report.
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5208, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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Dr. Tabor
Ok, we will agree the police release the information about the .223 round or casing, I think the report says casing. The police give a reason for the casing. What answer do you expect? Do you have an answer already in your mind and will accept nothing less, I do not know. It will be interesting to hear the evidence at "trial" first not in the media spin.
Leave the new Chief alone.....
Just because the newspaper does not mention all of his requirements, does not mean that he was not the best qualified person for the job. If he rose to the ranks of Major before becoming the new Chief that should say something about him. One does not get promoted by retired Chief Justice by not being an excellent officer at some point in time. For those of you who do not believe that a b/m can get somewhere in his life w/out it being given to him because of the color of his skin....shame on all of you. You have to be on the inside to know that Chief Wright was more than qualified to be Chief and many things need to change w/the department and he is just the man that can make things better for the department and for the citizens CPD protect.
qualifications
I would be interested in seeing the list of qualifications that both the new chief has and those of the deputy chief who was passed over have in their training record. That would be a story in itself. I bet that would tell once and for all if race was considered in this appointment.
Qualifications?
I'm sure that the New Chief is a really nice guy. But, I didn't read anything in the article describing the extra effort he put forward while employed by the CPD to qualify him to take charge and direct this multi-million dollar organization.
Where else but government can "regular attendance" and attrition place a person in a decision making position.
Maybe it was just overlooked by the author of the article. Or worse, maybe it was just overlooked by the City Officials. I feel that person most deserving of this position must have advanced formal education in criminal justice, management, and public policy. City government and especially the CPD should not be ran like a Fraternity House. Being the most popular does not make you the best qualified.
Case in point: "Just because I was the gate guard at NASA for 30 years doesn't qualify me as an Astronaut."
Just Casually Observing.
OK , Mr Price, specific questions
If the police exchanged or returned fire in the incident, should that not be immediately made public?
In particular, if, when they felt they were in danger, they fired through the door, as Frederick is alleged to have done when he felt he was in danger, would that fact not be something that would bear on the reasonableness of the charge against Frederick, and be an important factor for the public to consider in their oversight of the police?
If so, then why has that .223 case found at the scene not been acknowledged or explained since it appeared in the FOIAed search inventory?
Dr. Tabor
Again, you demand the information be released "to the press". Sir, this is where I have to disagree because the press can spin the information anyway they want too. Ask Richard Jewel what happens when information is released to the press. They do not have to be sworn in before a jury or grand jury to determine guilt or innonce. The public is entiitled to the basic information in the begining or file a FOIA. Let the investigation continue for both the defense and prosecution. The facts through discovery will come out during the trial.
The new Chief stated anything he says may jepordize the ability for a fair trial. You can not argue with that. I agree there should be no secret police in America. Finally, I think we will just have to agree to disagree and on how much information should be released to the general public. Thank you.
FIrst, restore the public trust
Almost three months have passed with facts about the death of Det. Jarrod Shivers and the arrest of Ryan Frederick which were known to the Chesapeake Police that very day, and which should have been released to the press immediately, still kept secret. Pulling a veil of secrecy over the events of that night has eroded the public' trust by creating the appearance of a cover up. Reasonable questions from the public should be answered, such as:
http://tinyurl.com/5jzuea
Truthful answers to these questions can in no way compromise the right to a fair trial but could go a long way to starting the new Chief's tenure on the right foot. We do not have secret police forces in America and our police are subject to citizen oversight, its time for the truth to be told.
same old stuff
Diversity?? to what end? Somehow if your workforce is "diverse" it's better? I don't think so. Better is when each individual selected is the most qualified for the job. Was the chief selected because he's the most qualified or for the sake of "diversity"? Oh and a new chief always has to mention "drugs". Yes we've been using the same old technique for trying to "fix" that problem for 80 years now, do you have an original idea? I think the previous poster was right, get rid of those ugly uniforms, yep thats really important. Then just ride the pony to retirement..
then why is a consultant
then why is a consultant going to get paid to do what a competent chief should be able to do? Seems like a waste of money if the chief is was "qualified".
ANSWER: Because the city of Chesapeake was more interested in "diversity" aka picking someone based on the color of their skin rather than worrying about if the person was qualified. Just go back and read all the articles on this new police chief. They all dwell on "diversity,diversity,diversity". I'll be so glad when society gets over this nonsense of thinking everybody that is any color other than white is automatically qualified for a job. The color of your skin doesn't make you qualified.It's a shame the city of Chesapeake is going to have to find this out the hard way when the guy goofs up.
best candidate?
then why is a consultant going to get paid to do what a competent chief should be able to do? Seems like a waste of money if the chief is was "qualified".
Welcome Chief!!
Please look into the ugly uniforms!! Replace them!! Especially the pants!!