Return of SROs? After replacing school resource officers with unarmed safety coaches, Albemarle County Public Schools is considering bringing police back into Albemarle High School, in response to parents’ complaints about fights, truancy, vaping, sexual assault, and other student misconduct. “Working with the police department to hire and assign a highly effective, well-trained school resource […]
Return of SROs? After replacing school resource officers with unarmed safety coaches, Albemarle County Public Schools is considering bringing police back into Albemarle High School, in response to parents’ complaints about fights, truancy, vaping, sexual assault, and other student misconduct. “Working with the police department to hire and assign a highly effective, well-trained school resource […]
“So, Dashad Cooper. … Who is Dashad Cooper?” Cooper asked, repeating the question back to C-VILLE. Cooper is new to politics and has not had the time to perfect his elevator pitch. But once he found his footing, he was able to explain his motivation for seeking office. “Dashad Cooper is a native from Charlottesville,” […]
City councilor resigns After two years of serving on Charlottesville City Council, Sena Magill has resigned. Magill announced her surprising departure at the end of council’s January 3 meeting. Overcome by tears, she asked Councilor Michael Payne to read her resignation statement on her behalf. “The needs of my family have changed during my term […]
Richmond removes final Confederate statue Richmond removed its statue of A.P. Hill on December 12—the last of the Confederate monuments owned by the city to come down. Just before 10am, a crane lifted the bronze statue, located in the middle of a busy intersection, off its pedestal and onto a flatbed truck. The monument was […]
New police chief shares goals for CPD One day after appointing Warrenton Police Chief Michael Kochis as Charlottesville’s next chief, the city held a press conference so Kochis could share his priorities and goals for the department. Kochis, who has led the WPD since 2020, said he met former CPD chief RaShall Brackney for the […]
The first 17 rings commemorated the victims of mass shootings that have occurred since Sandy Hook. The 18th commemorated the 611 other mass shootings that have taken place on U.S. soil. Approximately 30 people gathered on the Downtown Mall for the 10th annual vigil to remember those harmed by gun violence. The first vigil was […]
The long-running lawsuit accusing an Albemarle police officer of racial profiling was back in federal court—this time for the defendant’s motion to enforce a September settlement agreement, to which seven of the eight plaintiffs mostly agreed. The suit against Andrew Holmes, now a detective, was originally filed in February 2016. Plaintiffs Bianca Johnson and Delmar […]
Crumbling paint. Exposed pipes. Cracked floors. As I walk through the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, it is clear the 48-year-old facility is in horrible condition. When ACRJ Superintendent Martin Kumer guides me to a cell block in the older section of the jail, built in 1974, my eyes are immediately drawn to the small silver toilets, […]
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 […]
Youngkin announces mental health reforms following shootings A day after a manager shot and killed six people and injured several at a Walmart in Chesapeake before killing himself on November 23, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced his administration will propose legislation to the General Assembly this winter that would increase mental health resources and address staffing […]