Warrenton Police Department Chief Michael Kochis will be Charlottesville’s next police chief.
During the December 5 City Council meeting, interim City Manager Michael Rogers announced that he had chosen Kochis after a months-long community engagement, recruitment, and selection process led by POLIHIRE. After receiving 19 applications, Rogers formed a screening committee, which narrowed down the finalists to three candidates: Kochis, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Commander Easton McDonald, and CPD Captain Latroy “Tito” Durrette, who has led the department since former CPD chief RaShall Brackney’s controversial firing last fall.
On November 28, the committee conducted final interviews with the candidates, the Police Civilian Oversight Board hosted a candidate forum, and councilors spoke again with the officers, before Rogers made his final decision. Council unanimously voted in favor of Rogers’ appointment.
Rogers said he spoke with several community organizations regarding Kochis’ track record—including Warrenton’s Black Lives Matter chapter, a Baptist church, and the local NAACP—and received “glowing reports.” Mayor Lloyd Snook also received a letter from Warrenton’s mayor, who emphasized how “well-respected” Kochis is by the town. And several law enforcement officers told Snook that Kochis, who has more than 20 years of policing experience, is “the real deal.”
Snook praised Kochis’ ability to bring stability to the CPD, which has a severe staffing shortage—before Kochis took over the WPD in 2020, the town had three chiefs in 18 months. Kochis has since filled every vacancy, recruited more women officers, and implemented a program allowing people to anonymously rate officers, among other accomplishments praised by the councilors.
Joining Monday’s meeting virtually, Kochis thanked the city for a “thoughtful and thorough” selection process.
“I know we have a lot of work to do,” said the new chief, “and I’m ready to get started.”
Kochis’ first day on the job is January 16.
County sees spike in shootings, vehicle thefts
Gang activity has caused a spike in shootings and stolen vehicles this year in Albemarle County, according to the county police department.
As of December 1, the ACPD has responded to 131 shots fired calls and investigated 96 vehicle theft cases this year—a 15 and 61 percent increase, respectively, compared to the three-year averages for the same time period. Between July and November, seven people were shot, and 29 vehicles were stolen in the county. Police have linked most of these incidents to “several groups of self-identifying gangs, comprised mostly of … middle- and high-school-aged juveniles,” reads a department press release. The ACPD has identified over 50 gang associates.
The department has arrested seven unnamed juveniles and three adults in connection with these crimes: Meleak Domorion Clark, 19, of Farmville; Devontae Markel Johnson, 18, of Albemarle County; and Jalonnie Antonio Henson, 19, of Charlottesville.
Still, violent crime is down overall in the county, compared to the past three years.
“To the youth participating in this criminal behavior,” said ACPD chief Colonel Sean Reeves during a December 1 press conference, “it is only a matter of time before you or someone you love is shot or killed—so let’s end this cycle now.”
In brief
Shots fired
On December 3, the Charlottesville Police Department responded to an aggravated assault report on the 800 block of West Main Street at around 7:44pm. The officer discovered a person who’d been shot, who was later taken to the hospital for a non-life threatening injury. In a UVA safety alert, the University Police Department initially stated that a suspect—described as a male wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans—fled from the scene. However, the CPD later clarified that the victim had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot.
Mpox death
A Virginia resident has died from monkeypox, according to a December 1 state health department press release—the first death from the disease in the commonwealth. The patient was an adult in the state’s eastern health region. According to the latest VDH data, there were no active reported cases of the disease—which health officials now refer to as “mpox” to reduce stigma associated with the prior terminology—from November 27 to December 3 in the state. People who may have been exposed to mpox are urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce their chance of developing the disease.
Child flu death
Virginia has also seen its first pediatric flu death of the 2022-23 influenza season. A child between ages 5 and 12 in the state’s southeastern region died from “complications associated with influenza,” according to a November 30 Virginia Department of Health press release. The VDH urges everyone 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine.
Helping hand
Soap, toothpaste, socks, underwear, and other essential items will be available to students at Charlottesville elementary schools for free, thanks to the Chris Long Foundation’s new EdZone program. School staff will identify students in need, and help them discreetly access the items. “Students who are not getting these basic needs met can suffer from stress and low self-esteem .… [EdZone’s goal] is to support student success by ensuring kids arrive at school comfortable, confident, and ready to learn,” said Long in a press release.
