HOPEWELL Va. — Simply 5 days since a violent crime process drive was introduced to attempt to curb violence, Hopewell’s chief of police says this system is already seeing outcomes.
Longtime Hopewell resident Melissa Taylor stated individuals within the metropolis are prepared for a change.
“I feel persons are indignant… They wish to get their metropolis again,” Taylor stated. “They’re bored with being afraid.”
For Taylor, a turning level on police decreasing crime got here Thursday night time when she attended a city-wide Neighborhood Watch assembly.
“I really feel extra assured,” she stated. “It helps that he defined precisely what their mission was, what they plan to do.”
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A part of that assembly concerned Hopewell Police Chief A.J. Starke speaking about new know-how that may assist officers extra rapidly analyze shell casings recovered at crime scenes.
“At the moment we’ve to ship these shell casings off to be examined and it may take months to get outcomes again,” Starke defined.
The State Lawyer Common’s Workplace is altering that subsequent week.
“So this know-how that’s coming to Hopewell will give us the power to investigate these shell casings on the spot and provides outcomes,” Starke stated.
That can let police know if the gun used was additionally utilized in one other crime.
Town will even get stationary cameras and cameras mounted on police automobiles inside the subsequent ten days.
“This know-how will give our officers and detectives info that we’ve not had accessible earlier than,” Starke stated.
IN-DETH COVERAGE: How Hopewell deputies hope to curb escalating gun violence
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The chief can also be working to have 15 Neighborhood Watch applications shaped throughout town.
Whereas some outcomes could take time, the Violent Crime Activity Power introduced Monday has already seen outcomes with a number of weapons taken off the road.
In actual fact, process drive members made a cease Thursday night time and located 4 ounces of crack cocaine, 20 grams of heroin, greater than $2700 and a Glock 31 handgun.
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“What we do know is that gun won’t be utilized in a murder,” Starke stated. “That gun won’t be used to terrorize this neighborhood.”
The chief additionally stated there was a change to the division’s pursuit coverage as nicely.
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Taylor stated she is reassured by the brand new measures and has religion within the chief.
“He [Starke] needs to be the change on this city and I really feel assured he can try this,” she stated.
Starke stated the division is at present down eleven officers, however that the duty drive helps to make up for that.
Moreover, the chief stated his workplace is now getting extra calls and suggestions than in current months as a result of he believes neighbors are bored with the crime.
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