Norfolk City Council Continues To Pursue Police Reform

Press release from the City of Norfolk:

Posted on: June 10, 2020

NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk City Council took additional steps in its pursuit of police reform during their Tuesday, June 9 meeting. Building on public safety strategies that prioritize de-escalation in violent situations and models of community-oriented policing, City Council directed the City Manager to pursue the following:

• Ban high speed police chases in all cases other than those involving felonies which have resulted in serious injury or death.
• Petition the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to end its mandate that requires the Commonwealth’s police departments to train its officers in employing carotid choke holds.
• Publish current Norfolk Police Department policy and procedures manual, all general orders, special orders, update annual reports on a regular basis, and to make these items available to the public on the City of Norfolk website and Open Data platform.

Norfolk’s Police Department has been moving from the heavy enforcement model of the 1990’s and shifted to a model of community-oriented policing. Since 2013, Norfolk has focused its efforts toward the just administration of public safety, community engagement and greater accountability.

This press release was produced by the City of Norfolk. The views expressed here are the author’s own.