The Charlottesville Police Department has set up an email address to take questions from community members who want to know more about a new tool that the department is considering using. “With the association between our stolen vehicles, shots fired calls, and homicides, we have identified the FLOCK License Plate Recognition (LPR) system as a…
As Albemarle continues to prepare for growth, that includes the need to hire personnel to respond to emergencies no matter the cause. On Tuesday, the county announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a $7.1 million to hire two and a half dozen fire fighters. The funding comes through the agency’s Staff for…
The past two years have seen an uptick in the amount of violent crime in the Charlottesville Albemarle area, mirroring a national trend. During that time, there have also been leadership changes in the city and county’s police departments. Yesterday the Senior Statesmen of Virginia invited both Albemarle Police Chief Sean Reeves and Charlottesville Police…
The empty seat for Deputy City Manager for Operations in Charlottesville did not stay vacant long. City Manager Sam Sanders has appointed Steven Hicks as the replacement for the position he held for two years before getting the top position. Sanders has also named interim chief Michael Thomas as the permanent head of the Charlottesville…
An initiative to help combat gun violence will move forward. Charlottesville City Council has approved an ordinance that will allow the Police Department to create a buyback program for firearms. Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis told Council that the city will partner with another entity to conduct the transactions. “We would be reaching to a…
The City of Charlottesville owns the S&P Building at 700 East Jefferson Street and the Charlottesville Economic Development Authority leases it to S&P. City Council was briefed on the terms of this arrangement last June. Just over a year later, a few city departments will be moving into the building on the 1st and 2nd floors….
Charlottesville is a city that has had much turnover and many high profile vacancies. That includes the position of fire chief. Michael Thomas has been serving on an interim basis since Hezedean Smith left to take a position in Florida. There were 30 applications to become the new chief. “The in-house review committee, which included representatives of…
Last week, Albemarle County became the latest locality in the area to adopt a plan to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. The Thomas Jefferson Planning Districts maintains and updates the Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, a document required by the federal government in order to qualify for certain grants and other funding sources….
Localities all across Virginia have been working together on plans to use funding that comes from a major settlement from pharmacies related to the over-prescription of opioid painkillers. Last week, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors agreed to proceed with a contract with the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority on a future project. “This is the work…
Prospective Communications Director turns down job Charlottesville has been without an in-house City Attorney since Lisa Robertson abruptly resigned at the end of 2022. The city has contracted with two separate law firms to provide legal advice, but that could come to an end soon according to Interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers. “We will conclude the…