The City of Richmond has applied for Federal Fiscal Year 2011 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding from the U.S. Department of Justice. The JAG award will be used to supplement Criminal Justice initiatives and will be implemented by the Richmond Police Department. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance makes JAG awards directly to units of local government. The $254,612 in funding received this year will be used to support Richmond Police Department's Richmond CrimeSweep Prevention and Enforcement Program.
Please take a moment to review the full application. Comments are welcomed and encouraged.
Richmond CrimeSweep Prevention and Enforcement Program
Project Abstract
The City of Richmond respectfully requests funding to support our CrimeSweep initiative. The goal of the program to be established is to ensure coordinated efforts with local and state law enforcement and criminal justice partners to increase public safety, reduce crime and the fear of crime in the City of Richmond.
The Richmond Police Department will continue to work with agencies to re-brand Richmond's highly successful Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership – CVRP.
The partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, whose mission is to reduce violent crime in Richmond neighborhoods, is being re-branded Richmond Crime Sweep.
Richmond Crime Sweep will feature TV ads directed and produced by the Virginia Commonwealth Center's BrandCenter in partnership with Mad Fish Films, signs on local buses and other means of transit as well as transportation stops in the City, digital billboards along the interstates, and storefront signs.
The TV ads will be aimed at the audience of violent and potential offenders in Richmond and will convey the message that 13 agencies work as one in the Richmond area and they are known as Richmond Crime Sweep.
The Cooperative Violence Reduction Partnership formed in May, 2005 includes the Richmond Police Department, Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Office, Attorney General of Virginia, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Virginia State Police, ATF, FBI, DEA, Virginia Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole District One, United States Marshal, Eastern District, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Police Department, the VCU Police Department and the Richmond Sheriff's Office.
This unique partnership is designed to reduce violence in Richmond neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for the city as a whole. The CVRP utilizes an intelligence-driven approach to identify the most violent neighborhoods and offenders in the City of Richmond and then deploy the combined resources of the CVRP partners to interdict, suppress and prevent violent crime.
The CVRP is a multi-pronged approach to reducing the historically high rate of violent crime in the City of Richmond. CVRP has worked to enhance communication and cooperation among federal, state, and local partner law enforcement agencies working together to reduce violent crime in the City of Richmond. Through this enhanced communication, this innovative approach has resulted in the dramatic reduction of violent crime.
The top identifiers associated with this effort are: Community Policing, Crime Prevention, Less-Than-Lethal, Overtime and Violence – Violent Crime.
Program Narrative
The City of Richmond's estimated population is approximately 200,000. It is generally accepted that the total population for Richmond and immediate jurisdictions is nearly 800,000.
The population is very diverse and includes as many as 50,000 undocumented Hispanics. Richmond, Virginia's capitol city, has major highway systems that flow directly through the city limits. Interstate 95, the main north-south artery of the east coast and Interstate 64, a primary east-west thoroughfare, are essential links to business and commerce, tourist attractions and various attractions within the city and surrounding jurisdictions.
The combination of these factors, as well as others, contributes to the daily public safety challenges facing Richmond.
The City of Richmond, with the Richmond Police Department as lead agency, has developed a comprehensive strategy to address public safety issues. The RPD continues to work with various federal partners including DEA, FBI, ATF and USAO on various initiatives This focused approach to violence reduction has been successful with the assistance of local and state partners as well (Commonwealth Attorney's Office and Virginia Office of Attorney General). Under the leadership of Chief Bryan Norwood, the RPD philosophy of policing involves a focused law enforcement approach, community and law enforcement partnerships, and systemic prevention programs.
Organizational Capacity
RPD is led by Chief Bryan Norwood. The following report directly to the Chief of Police:
- Deputy Chief of Administration
- Deputy Chief of Operations
- Deputy Chief of Support Services
- Chief of Staff
- Internal Affairs
- General Counsel
- Executive Protection Unit
The Administrative Division includes the following units: Training, Financial Management, Information Technology, Department of Emergency Communications and Human Resources. Within the units are Property and Evidence, Payroll, Recruit Academy, Officer Training, and Warrants and Information.
The Operations Division consists of approximately 425 officers assigned to this division. The officers are responsible for patrolling and providing first-class service to the citizens of Richmond. The four precincts are broken out into Area 1 and Area 2 and each precinct consists of 3 sectors each.
The Support Services Division conducts major case investigations against criminal organizations involving narcotics trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling, sales and distribution of illegal liquors and pornography. This division includes Narcotics, Asset Forfeiture, Gang, Vice and Technical Assistance units. The Community, Youth and Intervention Services Unit is designed to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods, along with placing a greater emphasis on youth and seniors and also falls within the Support Services Division.
In total, the RPD consists of 752 sworn personnel and 150 civilian staff.
While the City of Richmond will ultimately provide oversight of the program, the Richmond Police Department will be the lead agency. Coordination of all programs will be handled by the department's grants manager who is responsible for ensuring the programmatic and fiscal compliance of all grant activities. The RPD grants manager will be responsible for all financial reports as well as any programmatic reports required by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Each of the project updates will be reported through the designated Department of Justice reporting tools including the Grants Management System and Performance Measurement Tools databases in accordance with DOJ guidelines. The Grants Manager has received training on each of the tools and has been involved in the BJA Focus Group to explore enhancements and possible changes to the BJA Performance Measurement Tool.
It should also be noted that the RPD is an active participant on the Richmond Community Criminal Justice Board (CCJB) and that the Grants Manager is assigned to the Finance and Quality Assurance Committee.
The Finance Quality and Assurance Committee is comprised of stakeholders from Richmond's Criminal Justice, Finance, Planning and Budget community. The purpose of the Finance and Quality Assurance Committee is to promote full financial accountability; compliance with relevant laws and regulations; and efficient and effective operation of grant funded programs. The Committee shall: Review Board priorities to assess opportunities that may come forward through grant solicitations, foundations, or community partnerships; establish a standardized review and approval process for submitting federal, state, and local funding applications through city administration that serves the criminal justice service population; and review and approve specific proposals that have been developed after having received initial approval.
The CrimeSweep initiative will focus around the 5 Project Identifiers:
Community Policing & Crime Prevention– Bicycle Patrols
The use of bicycles has become extremely helpful in the crime prevention within the City’s neighborhoods and communities. Currently the Richmond Police Department utilizes Police bicycles to patrol residential, commercial and park recreational areas. Officers are specially trained and utilize police bicycles to enhance their crime reduction strategies. It should be noted that each of the RPD's precinct has unique challenges and uses for the deployment of bike patrols.
The driving factors in consideration for bike patrol are:
- Crime Trends – current trends are analyzed during weekly staff meetings, bi-weekly Target Review (COMPSTAT) and at daily precinct roll calls.
- Environmental Landscape – focus on the ability for the bikes to maneuver areas where patrols cars are more restricted. These areas are generally park and recreation areas including Belle's Island that boarders the James River and is a popular location primarily during spring and summer months.
- Density of Residential Areas – population density in various downtown locations including The Fan District necessitates the use of bicycles in these neighborhoods. With many homes, duplexes and apartments in a confined area, the strategy used to patrol these is extremely critical to preventive measures. In addition, the downtown business district greatly benefits from proactive, preventive bike patrols. Officers are not only visible but are actively communicating with citizens and business owners.
Currently some of the precincts currently provide as many as 4 full time bike officers in their areas. The advantages to using bikes is evident as officers have found that bikes are less threatening to citizens, less authoritarian and less confrontational in citizen contacts. Additionally the bikes allow the officers to return to their problem areas again and again and to use the bike as an enforcement tool that returns the officer to the neighborhood.
Bike patrol and community policing are natural connections as the public clearly identifies with the bike officers. Notable examples include:
- Public offering unsolicited problems and criminal information to officers
- Bike officers generally engage and communicate with 40-50 people during a shift, without reducing effectiveness in dealing with crime and related problems
- All demographics tend to identify with and approach the bike officers
Less-Than-Lethal
The Richmond Police Department will increase the Taser Less Lethal Weapons Program to additional Field Officers and Supervisors.
The expansion of the TASER program will allow the department to reduce injuries to both the officers and suspects. This is an additional tool that officers can employ that is highly effective at subduing potentially dangerous persons and is a viable option in providing less than lethal means.
In addition to the field officers the RPD deploys a Support through Rapid Tactical Response Team (SRT), The SRT is deployed primarily on Friday and Saturday nights and offer support to those in the field. The SRT team members each have been trained using the less than lethal tasers to be used. This unit seeks to expand to additional officers.
The concept is to utilize a small fraction of the SWAT Team to assist patrol in high crime areas, to address specific crime trends or patterns, and significant events where the potential for violence exists. The deployment is usually one, 2-man team, but on occasion two, 2-man teams in unmarked vehicles. We have used this component of the SWAT Team for such events as shotgun commercial robberies in South Richmond, where ten convenient stores were robbed by two assailants displaying shotgun. The advantage in this circumstance is to utilize their training on a potential dangerous confrontation, if an encounter were to take place with these two suspects. This allows for a swift tactical response instead of the normal time frame of a full SWAT Team call out.
We have also deployed the SRT in the Shockoe Bottom area (bar district of the city) to deal with recent violence that has occurred. In 2010 we experienced two murders in the area over a short period of time. Again if a violent confrontation were to take place having a small fraction (2 to 4 members) of the SWAT Team already in place may reduce the chance for further violence.
Benefits of the SRT teams are:
- Patrol high crime areas
- Rapid response to violent crime or potential violent crimes
- Immediate availability for high risk search warrants
- Available as a resource for tactical issues / circumstances
- Assistance with fugitive or high risk apprehensions
The model the department currently uses is the TASER X-26 equipped with the Tasercam. This configuration affords the department the opportunity to view the TASER deployments, if desired, and check for policy compliance. This also provides the department an extra "objective" investigation tool during allegations of excessive force.
Those internally certified to teach and use less-than-lethal taser training will train students. The curriculum for students will provide students with detailed information on how the ADVANCED TASER M26 and TASER X26 Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) operate and how to maintain them.
This course differs from a traditional firearms course in that TASER devices cannot be opened up for disassembly and repair. Students will be shown how to make external repairs as well as troubleshooting procedures and preventative maintenance.
Topics covered include:
- Electrical outputs
- Troubleshooting
- Power sources
- Data Downloads
- TASER ECDs and cartridges
- Flammability issues tracking and maintenance
- ECD tracking and maintenance
- Holster issues
- Repair procedures
The TASER Certified Technician course will give students a more thorough understanding of:
- How TASER ECDs operate
- The electrical outputs of TASER ECDs
- How to conduct preventive maintenance on the ECDs
- How to diagnose a malfunction
- What repairs can be made in the field and how to perform them
- How to minimize turnaround time for devices that need to be repaired at the factory
- How to track TASER ECDs and cartridges
- How to conduct downloads and interprets firing data
- Quality and safety measures in the manufacturing process
- How to ensure safe compatibility of a TASER ECD with issued chemical sprays
- Holsters and accessories
Overtime Initiatives
The RPD will also utilize overtime to support the Fugitive and Firearms Initiative (FFI) within the City. FFI is a joint firearm interdiction partnership between uniform Richmond Police Department and Virginia State Police staff supported by the A.T.F. The initiative targets those individuals that choose to use a firearm in an illegal manner. The FFI generally has been implemented for an operation for 100 days from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. The department is strongly considering some changes to this approach and will explore the possibility to run the targeted enforcement project throughout the year.
FFI uses predictive analysis to determine target locations that had a high propensity for random gunfire and violent crimes involving firearms during the spring months. Target locations are fluid based upon analysis, weather, and operational success in certain areas.
In addition to geographic locations, analytical research and social analysis assist in determining individuals with a high potential for firearm violence.
Results from 2009:
| Firearms Seized |
121 |
| Felony Arrests |
71 |
| Misdemeanor Arrests |
173 |
| Felony Warrants |
41 |
| Misdemeanor Warrants |
88 |
| Summons |
102 |
| Stolden Vehicles |
1 |
| FIR |
643 |
| Powder Cocaine Seized |
0 |
| Crack Seized |
152.5 |
| Heroin Seized |
14 |
| Marijuana Seized |
1665.3 |
| Other Drugs |
12 mushrooms |
| Currency Seized |
5,782 |
| Search Warrants |
9 |
| Hours Walking |
77.5 |
| Complaints Investigated |
20 |
| Individuals Arested |
167 |
Results from 2010:
| Firearms Seized |
75 |
| Felony Arrests |
55 |
| Misdemeanor Arrests |
157 |
| Felony Warrants |
40 |
| Misdemeanor Warrants |
68 |
| Summons |
158 |
| Stolen Vehicles |
4 |
| FIR |
439 |
| Powder Cocaine Seized |
402#REF! |
| Crack Seized |
49.6 |
| Heroin Seized |
76g |
| Marijuana Seized |
522.9g |
| Other Drugs |
75 pills |
| Currency Seized |
$511 |
| Search Warrants |
4 |
| Hours Walking |
343.5 |
| Complaints Investigated |
1 |
| Individuals Arested |
132 |
FFI has proven to be an important proactive strategy to address violence and gun crime within the City. The initiative will continue to assist law enforcement partners in increasing public safety.
In addition to the FFI, the Richmond Police Department proactively seeks to quell any rise in crime during the summer months by deploying officers at area parks that are traditionally extremely busy during that time. Past efforts to police the areas with bike and foot patrols have proved beneficial. Within the City, Belle’s Island and Brown’s Island tend to be somewhat problematic, particularly on weekends. Added overtime patrol and visibility tends to minimize the criminal activity. It is expected that a 5 percent reduction in crime will be realized.
Violence – Violent Crime
The SWAT Team and some patrol officers currently carry patrol rifles in order to immediately respond to quickly escalating incidents that involve violent crime. While the RPD has necessary patrol rifles to equip those certified to use the weapons, the department is in need of replacing sights on some of the rifles.
The addition of an electronic sighting system to the patrol rifle platform will greatly enhance the "low light" capabilities of the weapon system. Standard iron sights are extremely hard to see in low light situations making accurate engagements difficult. It is recommended that the department purchase 42 AIMPOINT "patrol rifle optics".
These sights are extremely rugged and feature a three year battery life with a "constant on feature". To assist SWAT members with their duties, RPD will also purchase back up Iron Sight systems for SWAT rifles. This will allow an emergency sighting solution for a team member's primary weapon in the event that the electronic sight fails or breaks. Numerous team members have suffered electronic sight failures in training.
The Patrol Rifle Certification School will be held for 18 officers for each of the next 2 years. The cost of this internal training to be held at the RPD Police Academy will be for ammunition. Each member of the rifle team will fire approximately 2000 rounds. This extensive training opportunity is important because it not only increases safety of citizens during incidents but also assists in officer training and safety. The rifle certification training is designed to teach officers how to be safe, effective, and timely in the use of their firearms and tactics and to ensure the best possible outcome.
Training includes:
- Rifle Shooting Fundamentals
- Dynamic assault
- Individual and Team Tactics
- Low light, Night Shooting Drills
- Surprise Scenario Drills
Computer Hardware for Records Management System
In addition to the 5 Project Identifiers the RPD's Information Technology Unit continues to center efforts around mobile field reporting and providing increased tools that will increase public safety and officer safety.
The IT unit needs to replace 2 of the servers associated with the Records Management System (RMS). The Richmond Police Department Record Management System is called PISTOL. PISTOL is a Windows based application that provides line 911 operators with critical information and records management solutions.
The application is used to collect, store and retrieve all data on the following items: Arrest, Case Management (homicide), Summons, Field Contacts, Incident/Offense, Vehicle Information, and Warrants. We also added a module for the Richmond City Jail to collect inmate information as well.
This application is used and accessed by several agencies within the Richmond-Metro area in order to share data in resolving crimes within the City of Richmond. The Police Department currently has partnerships with DEA, FBI, Probation & Parole, Capital Police, Virginia Commonwealth University
Police and Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Police have access to this application via a secure connection. The application interface with our Computer Aided Dispatch system to provide officers updates information as it is reported by 911 operators.
These servers are control by the Richmond Police Department with security access granted to these agencies to assist in data retrieval of information for case management review. This application is hosted on three servers providing information to all agencies listed above.
The servers require replacement due to the age and the instability we are experiencing with this equipment. The data on these servers must be available 24/7 at the present time we do not meet this standard at any point if these servers are rebooted or in need of software maintenance
it is unclear if these system will come back online. The hardware maintenance for this equipment has expired and the equipment is several years past its end of life. These servers provide vital information for many agencies and, without the replacement of the equipment; the department will risk data corruption or worst data lost.
The corruption would directly affect how officers respond to calls for services, detectives monitors case loads, central records ability to provides police report to citizens, and other agency inability to reference data for criminal history review or comparison. The application is used within every aspect of the police for data
collection and is heavily used to produce crime statistics. Additionally the application connects to other applications to perform predictive crime analyzes. This application is an integral connection throughout the entire department. Without equipment to handle the increase data growth, high availability and the new modules that
are added every year, the RMS/PISTOL system would be compromised.
This application was purchased over 10 years to replace paper reports which have been very successful. Officers are held accountable for invalid or missed information entered into the system. Their supervisors are able to review any report at any time since all reports are online.
Each of the identified initiatives works within the Richmond Crime Sweep program that utilizes various tools and maximizes the established partnerships with community groups, law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies and professionals. The Criminal Justice community continues
to work collectively to increase the public safety issues and reduce the fear of crime within the City of Richmond. The collective goal is to increase the quality of life for all.
The City of Richmond will provide notification of the request to apply for and receive funding for the Justice Assistance Grant. Because the grant solicitation application has not been reviewed by the Administration
prior to the grant application due date, the application will go to the full Council in August 2011.
The Administration will receive and sign acknowledgement of receipt the application during August of 2011 and the application will be posted on the City's website for review for not less than 30 days.
The Richmond Police Department Grants Manager will notify the Department of Justice's JAG Program Manager when this requirement has been met. It is understood that funds will be on "hold" until this requirement is fulfilled.
Justice Assistance Grant Budget Detail Worksheet
A. Personnel
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| Overtime (FFI) |
1562 hours x $32 |
$50,000.00 |
| Overtime (Summer Suppression) |
945 hours x $32 |
$30,262.00 |
| Sub Total |
|
$80,262.00 |
B. Fringe Benefits
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Sub Total |
|
0.00 |
C. Supplies
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Sub Total |
|
0.00 |
D. Travel
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Sub Total |
|
0.00 |
E. Equipment
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| Taser, camera & holster (Yellow) |
30 x $1250 |
$37,500.00 |
| Taser Cartidges |
400 x $25 |
$10,000.00 |
| Volcanic Vx5 Bikes |
16 x $1300 |
$20,800.00 |
| AIMPOINT Rifle Sights |
42 x $400 |
$16,800.00 |
| Iron Sight Systems |
25 x $125 |
$3,125.00 |
| Sub Total |
|
$88,225.00 |
F. Contractual
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| PISTOL/RMS Server |
2 x $30,000 |
$60,000.00 |
| Sub Total |
|
$60,000.00 |
G. Other
| Item |
Cost |
Computation |
| Case Ammunition/Rifle Classes |
75 x $215 |
$16,125.00 |
| Crime Sweep Media/Awareness |
1 x $10,000 |
$10,000.00 |
| Sub Total |
|
$26,125.00 |
Budget Summary
|
|
| A. Personnel |
$80,262.00 |
| B. Fringe Benefits |
$0.00 |
| C. Supplies |
$0.00 |
| D. Travel |
$0.00 |
| E. Equipment |
$88,225.00 |
| F. Contractual |
$60,000.00 |
| G. Other |
$26,125.00 |
| Total Project Cost |
$254,612.00 |
| Federal Request |
$254,612.00 |
Budget Narrative
Personnel
- Richmond Police Department Fugitive and Firearm Initiative (FFI). This initiative is a joint firearm interdiction partnership between uniform Richmond Police Department and Virginia State Police staff supported by the A.T.F. The initiative targets those individuals that choose to use a firearm in an illegal manner. The FFI is operation for 100 days from Memorial Day thru Labor Day. FFI uses predictive analysis to determine target locations that had a high propensity for random gunfire and violent crimes involving firearms during the spring months. Target locations are fluid based upon analysis, weather, and operational success in certain areas. In addition to geographic locations, analytical research and social analysis assist in determining individuals with a high potential for firearm violence.
- The RPD will use the funding for overtime during summer months in order to better ensure community public safety. RPD officers will work in the overtime capacity and track and report all criminal activity. It is expected that crime will be reduced by 10% in 4 target public parks.
Fringe Benefits
N/A
Supplies
N/A
Travel
N/A
Equipment
- Tasers - The Richmond Police Department will increase its Taser Less Lethal Weapons Program to Field Officers, Supervisors and the Support Through Rapid Response Tactical Team.
The department recently enhanced the program to expand beyond only SWAT Team members. Purchase will include the weapon, camera and holster for proper handling.
- Taser Cartridges – 2 types of cartridges will be purchased. Training cartridges will be used during new trainees and recertification of those currently authorized to use the Tasers.
Additionally, field cartridges that are fully charged will be purchased for use by officers in less-than-lethal situation.
- Patrol Bicycles – Volcanic Vx5 bikes will replace the aging fleet of Cannondale bikes currently used within the RPD. Bikes will be used to patrol in the residential, park recreational and commercial areas of the city.
RPD personnel recently conducted an internal survey and research possible replacement bikes while seeking funding.
- AIMPOINT Rifle Sights - addition of an electronic sighting system to the patrol rifle platform will greatly enhance the "low light" capabilities of the weapon system.
Standard iron sights are extremely hard to see in low light situations making accurate engagements difficult. It is recommended that the department purchase AIMPOINT "patrol rifle optics".
These sights are extremely rugged and feature a three year battery life with a "constant on feature". The 42 sights will outfit the 25 fielded patrol rifles and 17 SWAT rifles.
- Iron Sight systems - for the SWAT team's rifles. This would allow an emergency sighting solution for a team member primary weapon in the event that the electronic sight fails or breaks. Numerous team members have suffered electronic sight failures in training.
Contractual
- Dell PISTOL/RMS Servers – servers will provide a solution for the Records Management System known as PISTOL. Current servers are utilized by surrounding jurisdictions and used to communicate information among agencies.
The data on these servers must be available 24/7 and at the present time we do not meet this standard. The hardware maintenance for this equipment has expired and the equipment is several years past its end of life.
These servers provide vital information for many agencies, without the replacement of this equipment the department will risk data corruption or data lost.
Other
- Ammunition - Each officer who attends the Richmond Police Department's Patrol Rifle School will fire 2000 round of ammunition. The current cost of the .223 ammunition is $209 per case. Each student will fire 4 cases which equals to $836 per student. A typical class will have between 15 – 20 students.
- Media Campaign for Crime Sweep – comprehensive campaign will include posters, community giveaways, awareness billboards and signs (buses, community neighborhoods, etc.) and car magnets, pins, etc. Exact cost of some items undetermined at this point.
