Gallaway salutes HART response to Belvedere incident 

Pruitt decries normalization of hate that has led to death threats

A member of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors took some time at yesterday’s meeting to acknowledge the role a new public safety team is playing in the community. 

On April 10, 2024, Albemarle’s new Human Services Alternative Response Team (HART) responded to an incident in the 700 block of Belvedere Boulevard where a man was wielding a machete. (read the original report)

“The HARTS team was first on scene and the gentleman was found to be in a mental health crisis and eventually the police department had to come in to help resolve the situation,” said Supervisor Ned Gallaway of the Rio District. “The fact that the situation was resolved and that man is receiving treatment is a specific commitment to an approach here in Albemarle County that I appreciate. It is not lost on me that this gentleman would have been shot and killed in other jurisdictions in this country.” 

Gallaway said the use of non-lethal methods to resolve a standoff is the preferable choice and he thanked Police Chief Sean Reeves for working to implement the program. 

HART launched in July 2023 and in its first six months responded to calls for 150 people. Albemarle’s draft budget for FY2025 contains additional funds to allow the team to expand in size and capacity. 

Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District took the time to thank public safety officials for their assistance in dealing with a recent bomb threat at the Planet Fitness in 5th Street Station.

“It is one of the dozens across the country that appear to have been targeted in response to the fact that Planet Fitness as a gym as a policy does not ban trans women from locker rooms,” Pruitt said. “I view this specifically as an anti-LGBT terror effort.” 

Pruitt said a local ordinance is needed to allow the Commonwealth’s Attorney to seek damages related to a hate crime which could repay the cost to respond to the bomb threat. He added he himself has received many death threats because he has spoken out about the issue. 

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