police | ALXnow - Part 104

City Council Unanimously Approves Putting Together a Police Review Board

Published June 10, 2020 at 4:35PM | Updated June 10, 2020 at 10:24PM

The Alexandria City Council unanimously agreed last night (Tuesday) that the city should Endorse a resolution condemning systemic racism and establish a community police review board. That vote was preceded by hours of heated debate on Council over red tape.

Some members were concerned that a new community police review board — which would investigate alleged abuses and use of force — would overlap with the City’s Human Rights Commission, the body which currently investigates instances where force is used.

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Police Investigating Assault of Minor in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2020 at 2:05PM | Updated June 10, 2020 at 8:08PM

Police car lights (file photo)

Alexandria Police are investigating an assault that put an Alexandria minor with non-life-threatening injuries on June 3 in the Del Ray/Rosemont area.

The incident, which was first reported by the Alexandria Times, occurred at around 10 p.m. in the area of Russell Road and Rosecrest Avenue. The victim was jumped by two suspects while walking home from a friend’s house, according to Alexandria Police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine.

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Alexandria Police Department Releases Statement on Use of Force

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated June 10, 2020 at 11:06AM

The Alexandria Police Department released a statement on the use of force on Tuesday evening on its use of force policies and accountability.

In its online list of Frequently Asked Questions, the department states that the use of force should only be used as a last resort that “should be avoided when possible, even when legally justified.”

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2020 at 9:00AM

Beyer Supports Justice In Policing Act — “George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and too many others should still be alive today, and the fact that they are not is a deep injustice that should outrage us all. We need reform now. I’m an original cosponsor of the #JusticeInPolicing Act, and look forward to helping pass it soon.” [Twitter]

Mayors and Chairs in Northern Virginia Decry Systemic Racism — “As the Mayors and Chairs of Northern Virginia, we raise our collective voices on behalf of the more than 2.5 million residents of our region to express our sorrow for the decades of injustices that have befallen the African American community in America.” [Gazette]

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Man Wounded in Late Night Old Town Shooting, No Arrests

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2020 at 11:35AM

An Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria man was shot late Monday night in the 700 block of North Fayette Street. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and drove himself to the hospital, according to Alexandria Police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine.

“There were a couple of cars that got damaged and hit with bullets holes damaged,” Ballantine told ALXnow. “The male subject took himself to Alexandria Hospital with a gunshot wound that was non-life-threatening.”

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City Council to Consider Community Police Review Board and Condemn Systemic Racism

By James Cullum

Published June 9, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated June 9, 2020 at 10:39AM

The Alexandria City Council will consider a resolution tonight (Tuesday) establishing a community police review board and condemning systemic racism.

Councilman Mo Seifeldein, who drafted the resolution, says he has support from his colleagues and that he envisions the board to have independent authority to review and investigate police misconduct and empower the community and law enforcement members to come forward with concerns without fear of retaliation.

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Alexandria Police to Take Another Look at Body Cameras

By Vernon Miles

Published June 8, 2020 at 5:30PM | Updated March 15, 2024 at 2:38PM

It’s been five years since the Alexandria Police Department started making widespread plans to outfit police with body-worn cameras with little progress, but that could change soon.

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Alexandria Crime Activity Up 12% Over Last Year

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2020 at 3:20PM | Updated September 2, 2020 at 10:33AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on June 9) Alexandria Police say that more than half of the crime increases in ALXnow’s recent report are attributable to larcenies from vehicles during the pandemic and 36 incidents at the Target store at 3101 Richmond Highway.

“The 80% increase in larcenies at Target year-to-date (45 in 2019 vs. 81 in 2020) is because the store significantly increased their loss prevention staff in January 2020,” Alexandria Police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine told ALXnow. “This has helped identify more shoplifters, but it does not necessarily represent an increase in shoplifting.

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Photos: Vigils and Protests Against Police Brutality Held in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated June 5, 2020 at 4:57PM

Hundreds of demonstrators participated in a vigil against police brutality at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Old Town on June 4, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) Alexandrians came out in droves on Thursday and Friday in support of George Floyd and a number of African Americans who have died at the hands of the police.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said at a peaceful demonstration at Charles Houston Recreation Center that there needs to be a revolution within local government to pass legislation that helps residents of color.

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BREAKING: Barricade Situation, Suspect Firing on Police on Main Line Boulevard

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2020 at 11:15AM | Updated June 6, 2020 at 12:02PM

Notch 8 apartments in Potomac Yard (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Update at 11 a.m. — Police arrested a 32-year-old suspect who barricaded herself into her one-bedroom apartment in the Notch 8 apartments in Potomac Yard, at around 3 a.m. after she fell asleep, according to Alexandria Police spokesman Lt. Courtney Ballantine.

“During the overnight hours the suspect was taken into custody after she appeared to fall asleep,” Ballantine told ALXnow.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 5, 2020 at 9:00AM

High School Student Assaulted Walking Home — “The assault occurred near the intersection of Russell Road and Rosecrest Avenue in the Del Ray/Rosemont neighborhood. The victim was a member of the T.C. Williams High School baseball team.” [Alex Times]

Officers Complain of Toxic Work Culture at Alexandria Police Department — “There are employees, including some who resigned after allegedly being subjected to retribution, who blame Chief Michael L. Brown for establishing an environment without discipline or accountability, where misconduct is swept under the rug. They say that under Chief Brown’s leadership, problems have gotten worse, which has fueled retirements and resignations from the department.” [Alex Times]