RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Richmond’s police chief announced safety changes for Shockoe Bottom nearly a month after a mass shooting left two people dead and several others hurt.
Chief Rick Edwards met with business owners and other city representatives to outline plans that include a substation, new cameras and consistent nighttime patrols.
“One of the things I heard pretty loud and clearly from some of the business owners was they wanted consistency with the officers,” Chief Rick Edwards said.
Previously, Richmond Police would rotate the 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. weekend shift, as a way to be fair to its team.
Now, Chief Edwards says it will be all first precinct officers patrolling Shockoe during that time.
“We’ll maintain that core group of people that will be there day in and day out. And we know that if they can set the tone early for the summer, we think that it’ll make it better for everyone. They’ll have a vested ownership of it,” he said.
Chief Edwards also described what he’s calling a “mini substation” in the neighborhood, which will be in the Seaboard building.
“We’ll stage some of our equipment there, we’ll have a break room for them, the ability to take police reports, the ability to process arrests, even for their juvenile arrest and we can meet parents there,” Chief Edwards said.
The six new cameras he had previously announced are now going up in June.
The Office of Gun Violence Prevention is focusing on community-led efforts, including a “nightmarket” in Shockoe to promote peace and a new ambassador program that will start training in April through June.
Ambassadors will work all over Richmond.
“Our goal is to have six individuals, a cadre, or group of groups that can work with different hospitals within the communities across Richmond,” said Greg Hopkins of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin said the investigation into the February mass shooting is ongoing and all three suspects have asked to get attorneys.
“Then we’ll start the proceeding of discovery and motions and things like that,” McEachin said.
While some attendees still had questions about parking, getting into the neighborhood when it’s blocked off for patrols, there was overall a more calm tone this second meeting.
Some business owners tell 12 On Your Side the quick changes represent more progress than they have seen in years, while some other owners say they wish more bar and restaurant representatives would show up to the meetings, to get more engagement.
“Collectively and collaboratively, we can get to the place we want to be. And that’s not just existing, talking about thriving, vibrant, Shockoe Bottom community,” Councilmember Cynthia Newbille said.
The next meeting between police, city leaders and business owners is set for April.
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