[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6663861,"mediaKeyId","2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3","parentId",2388873,"title","Police describe intensive policing in ShackleBottom after summer violence; council and businesses seek zoning and planning solutions","audioSeconds",320,"startMs",1720000,"endMs",2040000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3&start=1720&end=2040","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3/thumbnail_1720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6663861/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Police-describe-intensive-policing-in-ShackleBottom-after-summer-violence-council-and-businesses-seek-zoning-and-planning-solutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663861-9c7969861894daef9925459edc8c4a84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170616&Signature=QdyHgan34yqurIwN01QGHGgsJvomq3tvquU~7JD8RDJ-2x0~VmZ42lZfm2QUJY83cL1dLc89MTNTxqN~kFtwbZQwJY0QEG~bzKTt4IUyk~2wSdSzjycdFeXPV7gQXOKTtciBy5YM010HmYx2xHRupZ~7Do75dWaETPyStYpLlqR46dSkH9pmlSe4yBPdaW4fcjQtlvzdzdEGzYPw~pa9UgEYHjMMtrECQtugP1eeFLPPlT8Y0BS2wLfDdoX7iWnA6crM4aA8crg5F1gVGeRLbn0NxAvFEQ3o1arJrNH5FjJurrzFrc~EzL2vmU4H4gVmNgQp5tBhFAwbwUlxZ3FDjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Chief Rick Edwards told the Public Safety Standing Committee that heavy policing in the ShackleBottom over the past summer produced a measurable decline in violent crime but created enforcement and prosecutorial challenges.

Edwards said concentrated attention in the area corresponded with \"less shootings, less robberies, and overall violent crime drop of 12%\" in the summer months, but at a cost in manpower and overtime. He told the committee that a large share of guns reported stolen from unlocked cars were taken in the ShackleBottom area and that open display of firearms in the entertainment district is common. \"We seized 50 guns in a month and probably 300 guns of people walking around that were lawful. They were open carrying,\" he said.

The chief described a fatal shooting in the area in which an arrest followed; he also explained why a number of cases tied to public incidents were dismissed after review. Edwards said the Commonwealth's attorney asked RPD to try to determine whether a person had a concealed‑weapons permit before taking physical custody or putting hands on a suspect in some cases. \"There is no case law that requires that. That is simply what the Commonwealth attorney has asked for our officers,\" Edwards said, describing the guidance as an interagency request rather than a statutory requirement.

Council members and business leaders pressed for policy and planning responses. Councilmembers proposed discussing zoning approaches similar to city park firearm restrictions or creating a special entertainment district with a perimeter or ID carve‑out for residents and tenants. Warren Braxton, criminal justice chair for the Richmond NAACP and a ShackleBottom business owner, said business owners support a special entertainment‑district approach so the police \"can get the resources he need\" and the district can be governed to balance business operation and public safety.

Committee members asked the police and planning staff to work together and to include other council members who represent the area in follow‑up meetings. The committee also noted an estimated $27,000 in overtime tied to policing the ShackleBottom during peak summer operations; Chief Edwards said that figure covered mandated overtime for details but did not include on‑duty staff costs.

Edwards warned that confrontations around firearms can escalate rapidly and cited a recent distant incident in Virginia Beach as an example of risk to officers and the public. He urged residents who feel mistreated to file complaints and noted that body‑worn camera footage and multi‑agency review shape court outcomes.

Next steps recorded at the meeting included a staff follow‑up to convene discussions with the police chief, planning staff and council members representing the ShackleBottom area; no ordinance or formal zoning change was adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Public Safety Standing Committee on 2025-02-25 1:00 PM - Feb 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Rick Edwards said concentrated policing in the ShackleBottom reduced violent crime this past summer but required significant manpower and produced prosecutorial challenges; council members and business leaders asked staff to explore zoning and planning options.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6663864,"Richmond Ambulance Authority delivers 2024 annual report; council members ask for call‑center data",459,910000,1369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3&start=910&end=1369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3/thumbnail_910000.jpg","/articles/6663864/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-Ambulance-Authority-delivers-2024-annual-report-council-members-ask-for-callcenter-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663864-566e03ac88a870e5c4caf295d09ad427/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170616&Signature=DnEQ9FEZAZy9ix83~z4d1PtKMrsUjyR1yPu0FSudgSJqv5GJYHGjjn4Um~AajckgqZ8FKpXbnCPfXHyxsnRFiUAAPHQsFYzFA41tOgl~RYr1KHUnfqTrkZCpMfnaSGk1S6Zb6-ggxTLCrfAihE6cBsJgXlaJD5XtQTfGHq9RXfQJ-UYDDTKcIdM83PokG~WGwt1bJzkW1e2Jy8scBWuQu0Efs7oV~Tx9~qaG7aoiydMgP9G2K4lcBQQWmCJDhhe4YLfwxJKCkc1tHcHHtHPmwGdp6a9QSgC4g9r7cr~1dqji6-bFuq6jvCu~7rTjZQldvFkctaD3LHnmNyZpStlAfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chip Decker, chief executive officer of the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA), presented the RAA's 2024 written annual report to the Public Safety Standing Committee, as required by city code section 2‑7‑73.

Decker said the report, submitted in early December, summarized outreach, operations and financials. He cited an overall patient satisfaction rate of 98.5% and a top‑box patient engagement rate of 82%. He said RAA responded to about 53,000 calls and handled more than 39,000 transports in 2024, down from roughly 70,000 responses in pre‑COVID years.

Committee members raised questions about a transfer of emergency medical dispatch responsibilities to the Department of Emergency Communications (DEC). Decker and staff explained the current process: DEC call takers use the same interrogation system and enter information that routes to dispatch, and the ambulance authority receives the dispatch on the same computer‑aided dispatch feed. Decker said RAA remains an accredited center of excellence in emergency medical dispatch and hopes to resume direct dispatch in the future.

Committee members asked for clearer performance data comparing the period when RAA handled EMS call taking and dispatch to the period after DEC assumed the call‑taking role. Staff said the DEC system automatically calls back disconnected 911 callers and that abandoned calls are in the single digits, but they did not provide a precise percentage during the meeting. Members asked staff to prepare a side‑by‑side lookback (suggested 6‑month snapshots) on metrics such as time to answer, time to dispatch and other key performance indicators for the next meeting.

No formal vote was taken on staffing or dispatch policy at the meeting. Council members said they intend to reexamine the administrative decision to transfer call taking to DEC and requested the data lookback for discussion at a future meeting.","Chip Decker presented the Richmond Ambulance Authority's 2024 annual report and described call‑volume, patient satisfaction and accreditation status.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6663867,"Residents urge Richmond council to ban predictive policing and demand consistent traffic‑stop data",1630,165000,1795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3&start=165&end=1795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388873-a6cf05c9fcf51c3aba2bbae349e923b3/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6663867/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Residents-urge-Richmond-council-to-ban-predictive-policing-and-demand-consistent-trafficstop-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663867-d88dfd821a7638481e67a5fa6e345a23/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170616&Signature=A3JFP8~Q~TdkhB3y84ttELiaoy0TQR-TW3qOtW0o0ms1DESnGyYBPZfw35A0udxXTzaT6ox4xUUm9u36MYbSQ5YbYJ85kjJJ4GorCAYtwJeGGrUdY-4yi49ebjf6Gzd0IGQMLUVgXaoNXTL1uD8OPmWLMKqeevUrny93GZjKC~iMVi0EjzRDSb3GvwGRWAKe4iteRtnqhf048wNTMR8t9yUGAEyDKXVstGgGpGws7d6dbKaGjBNZQi~Qb~zgm2YqIij7Ei~AmX9G~L8n9gcPftLp4-DB2W2mLfzmMYTmSQFZCm9S8NCbT56HDVn5OeySAkerPyQteWyGMi86q4ICXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project told the Public Safety Standing Committee that racial disparities in traffic stops demand immediate policy attention.

Public commenter Dream Boyd described a December 2020 traffic stop she said left her \"traumatized,\" saying officers handcuffed and searched her and her brother. \"Now, since that every time I see the blue lights, I'm in panic. My heart is racing,\" she said.

The group pressed the committee to take three steps: pass an ordinance banning predictive policing in Richmond, require the Richmond Police Department (RPD) to publish more consistent traffic‑stop data, and encourage the Commonwealth's attorney to decriminalize certain misdemeanors and minor traffic offenses.

Why it matters: speakers said data and lived experience show persistent disparities. Lauren McGarry, an attorney and RTAP member, cited the Community Policing Act and local analyses and said Black drivers are \"nearly 4 times more likely to be arrested and searched than white drivers\" according to the city's traffic‑stop dashboard. \"This is not just a statistical anomaly. This is a pattern of systemic inequity,\" McGarry said.

RTAP speakers called predictive policing a feedback loop that concentrates enforcement in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. Yohanse Whitaker, a Seventh District resident, told the committee RPD had divided the city into \"29,000 micro zones\" and urged council to \"pass an ordinance that bans the use of predictive policing in our communities.\" Kayla, another RTAP speaker, described being followed and stopped while en route to a hospital and said officers later issued a warning for a registration issue she disputed.

Chief Rick Edwards of the Richmond Police Department responded to the comments in the same meeting. Edwards said the data RPD uses to identify gun \"hot spots\" come from community reports of shootings and robberies, not from police response statistics. He said officers often cannot determine a driver's race before approaching a stopped vehicle and encouraged anyone who believes they were mistreated to file a complaint: \"We will review it. We will find officers out of policy if they break that policy,\" he said.

Edwards also defended hot‑spot enforcement in some areas as having produced results: he told the committee that concentrated efforts in the ShackleBottom this past summer corresponded with a reported 12% drop in overall violent crime in the area. He said RPD will investigate complaints and that body‑worn camera footage is used in reviews.

No ordinance or formal action on predictive policing was taken at the meeting. Committee members and staff discussed next steps informally; staff did not identify a scheduled vote on an ordinance. The public comment period closed after the RTAP remarks.","Members of the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project told the public safety committee that Black drivers face disproportionate traffic stops and urged council to ban predictive policing, require the police to publish clearer traffic‑stop data and work with the Commonwealth's attorney to decriminalize certain misdemeanors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Police describe intensive policing in ShackleBottom after summer violence; council and businesses seek zoning and planning solutions

Richmond Ambulance Authority delivers 2024 annual report; council members ask for call‑center data

Residents urge Richmond council to ban predictive policing and demand consistent traffic‑stop data