Sarah Sonies
Contributing Writer
Law enforcement officials say proposed state budget cuts would be “devastating” to public safety in Virginia.
VCU’s Director for Communication and Public Relations, Pamela Lepley, said the cuts would not affect VCU police.
However, according to a news release by Gene Lepley, the public information manager for the Richmond Police Department, the Richmond police serve highly student-populated sectors including the Fan District, Carver Community, Ginter Park, Barton Heights and Jackson Ward, City Center and VCU.
The news release showcased the impact on students through the Richmond police’s first time robbery initiative that targeted portions of the city. The initiative resulted in robberies in the student-populated areas being cut by more than half over a three-month period from September to November.
Public safety officials gathered at the Capitol to sound the alarm about reductions in state funding to police and sheriff departments.
“The proposed budget cuts may well compromise the safety and welfare of families,” said Charles Jett, Stafford County’s sheriff and the president of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association. “We fully realize the difficult economic times we all face, but we also understand the importance our citizens’ place on public safety.”
Wednesday’s press conference also included representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police and the Virginia State Police Association.
According to a press release from the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, further cuts in state aid for local law enforcement, also known as “599 Funding,” could force some Virginia police departments to lay off officers or discontinue some programs.
The association said that according to a survey of police chiefs:
— 83 percent would have to cut back on buying equipment, such replacing worn-out patrol cars.
— 82 percent would have to cut training.
— 56 percent might have to lay off officers.
Doug Davis, chief of the Waynesboro Police Department and the president of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, said every law enforcement officer’s ability to perform service to the community is at a “turning point” because of budget cuts.
“It creates a vicious cycle of unacceptable service and training,” Davis said.
Jett said public safety officials have been “scrambling” to assess the impact of state budget cuts on their ability to provide their services to the community.
“It is an understatement to say that the proposed cuts are devastating,” he said.
The General Assembly is meeting to write a state budget for the next two years. To balance the budget, lawmakers must slash spending by billions of dollars.
Former Gov. Tim Kaine proposed cutting about $270 million for sheriff’s departments and commonwealth’s attorneys’ offices and about $73 million for local police departments.
Jett said the proposed biennial budget would abolish almost 1,500 positions from sheriff’s offices across Virginia and reduce law enforcement “capability” by 25 percent.
“Many sheriffs rely on the state-funded positions and have been told by their communities that if the cuts become reality, (the communities) will not be able to make up the shortfall,” Jett said.
Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston, was among legislators who attended the press conference to support public safety.
“The tragic situation is that we have to make an additional $2 billion in cuts, and all aspects of state government will be impacted,” Howell said.
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