Charlottesville seeking federal audit of community policing efforts

In late August, the Charlottesville Police Department asked a division of the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a review of its operations. 

The Office of the Community Oriented Policing Services is an entity that advises law enforcement agencies across the nation on how to work with communities. 

“When police and communities collaborate, they more effectively address underlying issues, change negative behavioral patterns, and allocate resources,” reads a portion of their website.  

The Charlottesville Police Department has requested that the federal office take a look at its organizational structure to review its strategic priorities. That includes a look at staffing levels and what policies are in place to ensure transparency. 

“The assessment evaluates the efficiencies and processes of law enforcement agencies to ensure they are effectively meeting the needs of their communities,” reads an August 21 press release. 

The specific request is for the office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative Program which has conducted work in Galax, Virginia. The COPS program reviewed how the “police response to specific populations” and this result in the hiring of at least one officer who could speak Spanish. 

“The COPS Office funded the hiring of one bilingual police office,” reads a three-page action report. “The GPD recruited from among the Hispanic community in the City of Galax and made a conditional offer of employment to a Galax native of Mexican heritage who lived within one of the predominantly Hispanic communities.”

COPS also helped the Galax Police Department become more efficient in FY2012. (read that report)

The Charlottesville Police Department is seeking assistance in order to get an external review on the community policing principles put into place by Chief Michael Kochis.  

“Over the last year, CPD has made significant strides in reducing vacancies, building trust, and reducing gun violence,” the release quotes Chief Kochis. “This assessment will tell us what we don’t know and where our blind spots are.” 

When asked this week when the review would be complete, CPD public information officer Kyle Ervin said there is no timetable but the whole process should take between 12 and 18 months. 

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