Patrick Wilson
The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
Interim Police Chief William Corvello has resigned.
Again.
Corvello, a former State Police superintendent, had said he would stay with Portsmouth until at least January, but cited family needs in his resignation on Wednesday.
The interim chief said in a letter to the city manager that he had “deferred for too long personal obligations and relationships at home, more particularly the daily association with family and friends.”
His resignation will be effective Oct. 8.
Corvello agreed to become Portsmouth’s interim police chief in May at age 76, a day after the sudden resignation of embattled Chief Edward Long.
But Corvello unexpectedly announced in August that he would resign Sept. 1. A key reason, he said at the time, was his office having to compete for resources with the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office.
City leaders successfully lobbied him to change his mind, and after agreeing on Aug. 25 to stay until at least January, Corvello sent the letter to City Manager Kenneth Chandler on Wednesday saying he had changed his mind.
In the letter, Corvello acknowledged that he had “indicated a willingness to serve an additional period.”
But, he said, he decided against it.
Portsmouth police Officer Jason Knorowski said he had no reason to question the explanation that Corvello gave for leaving.
“Chief Corvello is as straight up as they come,” said Knorowski, president of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association and its Southeast Chapter. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything.”
Knorowski said the department has been fortunate to have worked with him. “He’s a leader,” he said.
City Council members reached Wednesday night said they were disappointed, but understood.
“He certainly knew that we wanted him to stay longer,” said Vice Mayor Bill Moody Jr. “He was well aware of that, so I take him at his word.”
City Councilman Steve Heretick said he hoped that Corvello would continue to advise the city and the department in the selection of his successor and to reorganize the department.
“He is the deal,” Heretick said. “He is a genuine cop, and he cares about his officers.”
He said Corvello helped cut “the petty bureaucracy that has developed through the years.”
“And he lets good officers be good officers,” Heretick said. “I think that’s the highest testament you can give to any leader in law enforcement.”
Community leaders again expressed dismay that they wouldn’t have Corvello for longer.
“We were going to lose the chief, but I would have liked him to stay as long as he possibly could,” said Anne Galvin Bremor, public safety coordinator for the Shea Terrace Civic League. “But I wish him all the best.”
Ted Lamb, coordinator for Neighborhood Watch in the Cradock neighborhood, said he wondered, “What happened?”
“He has done a lot in the short tenure he’s been here. He’s been to Neighborhood Watch meetings,” Lamb said. “He will be sorely missed.”
Janie Bryant, (757) 446-2453, janie.bryant@pilotonline.com
Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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Duties are clear.
hwatkins is on the right track! Assigning Deputies to police the community is as ridiculous as assigning police to manage the jail and provide security in the courts! Not to mention the danger to the Deputies safety when they are playing police, not recognized, and killed or injured accidentally by another officer. Can't happen? Just did in Norfolk! It is very simple: Sheriffs Dept takes care of jail, courts and civil process. The Police Departments are trained for and responsible for policing the communities. No doubt the fine Chief Corvello attempted to correct this as any professional, responsible Chief would and failed. Perhaps the voters will finish Corvello's quest!
Revolving door
One day Portsmouth has to wake up. Its image is horrible. The continuing saga of the police and fire departments continues to grow. Both cant hold on to the good leaders and employees within their agencies. They seem to lose them to other departments for pay or better conditions. They have been talking about pay issues like decompression and pay plans for as long as I can remember. I would suggest they look for another leader from outside the city who can try once again to fix this mess. Or...as I suspect, they will promote someone from within because its easier and that person will do what they tell him/her to do.
hwatkins
"The Portsmouth taxpayers also risk losing state funding for the sheriff if the state catches him using state-funded deputies for non-mandated jobs."
Yes, simple. He doesn't do any non-mandated jobs. You're thinking of the former Sheriff Waters, not Sheriff Bill Watson.
Simple eald
The state comp board provides $$ for deputies to do mandated jobs in urban locales...that does not include police work. As a result, Portsmouth taxpayers are double paying for un-coordinated law enforcement.
The Portsmouth taxpayers also risk losing state funding for the sheriff if the state catches him using state-funded deputies for non-mandated jobs.
Portsmouth has chased off several highly qualified police chiefs and the sheriffs have been at least one big reason.
GOOD LUCK
The city council and city manager have blown it again. They had a great man and an outstanding leader, but they decided to Micro-Manage him and did not give him the room to work his magic. I admire the fact that the Chief did not push them under the bus on his way out, even though they deserve it. He did not leave based on the reasons he gave, but it is the easy way out without making to many people look bad. You can not keep good people if you Micro-Manage them in everything they do. Can not blame the man for leaving and I am already betting the next Chief will leave within a year or two if things do not change in Portsmouth.
From where I sit...
the monies are allocated in the budget for PPD and PSD. The Sheriff's department is doing a wonderful job showing the money is well-spent. I've been in Portsmouth for 22 years. This is the first time I've seen a dent in crime. Why is it the Sheriff is able to accomplish what the Police have not? His is a creative approach to getting the job done! I'm seeing a sour grapes attitude on the part of the police department. Why not just buck-up and get the job done instead of complaining that the Sheriff's men are "competing" for resources?
EALD...Read the budget before you comment
According to Portsmouth's city website, over $14 million goes to the sheriff. About $33 million goes to the police department.
How much of that $14 million is over and above the state-mandated duties of securing the jail and courts? That excess should be turned over to the police department so that professional law enforcement managers can handle the crime, not politicians.
your turn council
To fix this problem. Pay our law enforcement personel (PD and Sheriffs dept) the same wages as the surrounding cities and the exodus will stop. If you can't keep crime down or the perception of crime as low as possible, this city is doomed to fail. And yes council Portsmouth has a BIG perception problem. I know money is an issue so start by cutting Social Services/Welfare back to where it was just 3 years ago. I heard 2 women talking in line at the Commodore and 1 said she would never go downtown for the 7 o'clock show because of her fear for her safety. You are not going to fix that unless you have quality well paid cops.
Good luck PPD
You folks have too many internal problems for you not to have a good leader.
Stay safe.
Good Luck Chief...
For Kerrys74790 - I didn't know we were bred into this job. I am sure my parents, wife and kids are glad to know that.