July 2014 Today s Good News Tuesday, July 1 Kudos to Officer William Kingery who was named Second Precinct s Officer of the Month for May! In addition to responding to calls and assisting his fellow officers, Officer Kingery regularly finds time to visit the Boys and Girls Club on Bainbridge Street because he recognizes the importance of interacting with the youth and engaging them in discussions on conflict resolution among other topics. He also looks for different ways to solve problems, such as partnering with Lt. Michael Bender to conduct bike patrol in areas to monitor for suspicious activity. Thanks to this type of patrol, Officer Kingery was able to quickly respond and detain a juvenile suspected of being truant. Further investigation revealed a loaded firearm on the juvenile s person as well. These are just a few of the reasons Officer Kingery is our Second Precinct Officer of the Month for May! Thank you and keep up the great work! Wednesday, July 2 Kudos to Officer Michael Ahnstrom who was named First Precinct s Officer of the Month for May! From locating a key witness for a homicide trial and then making sure they make it to court for trial--to assisting citizens at every community event he can attend, Officer Ahnstrom is a very active and dedicated officer in Sector 111. Here s just one example of a problem that some officers may disregard, but Officer Ahnstrom recognized as important and stepped up to fix the issue. A citizen called to complain that his elderly mother could no longer use a bus stop near her residence because of aggressive panhandlers and vagrants who had taken over the stop. Officer Ahnstrom immediately took action, beginning an aggressive zero tolerance enforcement of quality of life issues in the North 25 th Street corridor. That included arresting more than 11 people for alcohol-related violations and working with GRTC to make the stop less attractive for vagrants. Though it may seem like a small thing, his actions go a long way in improving the community for everyone. Thank you and congratulations Officer Michael Ahnstrom our First Precinct Officer of the Month for May! Thursday, July 3 Kudos to Communications Officer Nancy Morey who was named the Department s Communications Officer of the Month for May! Like the dark clouds in the sky before a storm, CO Morey knew some bad weather was coming to Richmond on May 22. Thanks to her observation of the weather monitor and her 27-years of experience, she was able to get the Division of Emergency Communications prepared BEFORE the bad storm hit. She initiated several protocols and assisted with getting a third fire channel up and running. She also coordinated with fire channel operators to make all the necessary notifications to the Battalion Chiefs, Fire Marshals, Building Inspectors and EMS. This is just one of the many examples of her hard work last month. She also: *instructed two VCIN recertification classes, *attended Victim Information and Notification training, *worked diligently to improve Data Room operations, and *she even volunteered to take the lead on sending a Happy Basket to support a fellow agency that lost one of its communications officers. Thank you and congratulations to our Communications Officer of the Month: Nancy Morey! Friday, July 4 CITY HOLIDAY
Monday, July 7 Kudos to Fourth Precinct Detective Mark Godwin who was named the Department s Problem Solver of the Month for May! Detective Godwin looks at every investigation as a chance to test his investigatory skills and it really shows in his work. It was especially apparent when he focused on solving a rash of commercial robberies. He worked late hours and used social media to identify a group of suspects and then came in early to conduct surveillance on key members. Despite a heavy caseload, he still made time to respond when patrol officers needed his help with a string of residential burglaries. That dedication helped them identify and arrest a possible offender. The number of burglaries dropped significantly after that arrest. Detective Godwin is a great asset to the Department and demonstrates his dedication daily. Thank you and congratulations to Detective Mark Godwin our Problem Solver of the Month! Tuesday, July 8 First Precinct Master Patrol Officer Sharon Slavey s recent actions really show what police work is all about. She did more than just take a report and actually dug into the case to identify and find the people responsible for the crime. The incident began with a call from a business about the theft of a large quantity of steel. MPO Slavey interviewed the victim and several witnesses. Armed with that information, she was able to identify the truck the suspects used as well as find the stolen property at a nearby salvage yard. After following up with salvage yard workers, she was able to identify one of the suspects and then went to the vehicle s registered address where she was able to gather enough information to identify the second suspect. With assistance from Detective Calvin Layne, they obtained warrants for both suspects and are currently trying to find them. MPO Slavey s determination and attention to duty in this case resulted in all of the stolen property being recovered and the pending arrest of the two suspects. MPO Slavey goes the extra distance on every call she responds to and we are proud to publicly thank her and Detective Layne for their good work! Wednesday, July 9 A woman recently sent the Department one of the kindest notes ever written to an officer to thank Fourth Precinct Officers Nicholas Castrinos and Ashley Wood for their help during an incident more than a year ago. I want to sincerely thank them for... just being them, the woman wrote. Everything they did and said to us has carried us through our trek since that day. They may remember helping us restart. But they may not realize the intensity of their impact. Good job Officers Wood and Castrinos! Thursday, July 10 No matter what job you re in, good teamwork goes a long way in making everyone successful and meeting the end goals. Policing is no different. Case in point: Thanks to the speedy response, thorough investigation and good knowledge of individuals in their area, First Precinct officers were recently able to make two quick arrests after an armed carjacking. Officer Keith Mansfield was the first officer on scene and after interviewing the victims, he broadcast the suspects descriptions and last known direction of travel. Keen-eyed Officer Matthew Robinson located the victim s vehicle and the two suspects in it. They took off running and though Officer Robinson lost sight of them, Officer Joachin Okonkwo spotted them and arrested one of the men. With the assistance of Sergeant Kenneth Peterson and Major Crimes Detective Jay Brissette, they were able to identify the second suspect, who Officer Alexander Laury found and arrested a few days later. After further investigation, both men were charged with armed robbery. Good teamwork officers!
Friday, July 11 Thanks to a speedy response and smart community patrolling, several Second Precinct officers recently arrested three people for robbing a man at gunpoint within minutes of the crime. Officer Loynell Jefferson interviewed the victim and quickly broadcast the suspects descriptions. Tactical Unit Officers Obie Arrington, Nicholas Caesar, Jason Holt, Robert Langston Jr., Richard McTernan and Michael Spinos who were nearby spotted the suspects running in different directions and coordinated their response to arrest them. After further investigation by Detective Pedro Riddle, all three were charged with robbery and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Master Patrol Officer Robert Smith was also able to recover the victim s property and a possible ski mask used by the suspects during the crime. Good work officers! Monday, July 14 Thanks to the coordinated response and quick thinking of several Third Precinct officers last week, a man who threatened a woman at knifepoint on Carnation Street was swiftly identified and arrested. As one of the first officers on scene, Officer Shawn Nunnally ensured the victim s safety while gathering the suspect s description and last known direction of travel. He was then able to put out detailed suspect information to other officers in the area. A short time later, Officers Cierra Eldridge and Daniel Dixon spotted the suspect and gave chase after he ran into some nearby woods. Even as they ran, they continued to broadcast the suspect s movements so that other officers could help set up a perimeter. Officer Nunnally heard the foot pursuit and positioned himself on a section of road nearby where he thought the suspect would most likely reappear. Within minutes, the suspect did just that and after a brief dash, Officer Nunnally caught and arrested the man without incident. He was subsequently charged with aggravated assault and burglary. Good work officers! Tuesday, July 15 Police officers often do things that are outside of their usual job description and the community doesn t typically hear about it. That s why we post Today s Good News for our community and that s why we share incidents like this: An officer was flagged down by a citizen last week by a woman worried that her boyfriend was going to jump off of a bridge after they had an argument. Several officers immediately started checking the city s bridges, and it was First Precinct Officer Kenise Ford who found the man, despondent, on the Robert E. Lee Bridge. Officer Ford engaged the man in conversation, getting him to calm down and step away from the side of the bridge. Though he was adamant that he just wanted to be with his family, Officer Ford convinced him to let Richmond Ambulance Authority take him to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. Thank you Officer Ford for your kindness, dedication and compassion. Wednesday, July 16 After a man recently snatched a woman s purse on the Fan, Third Precinct Officer Michael Lockard used the power of the pedals to make a quick arrest. Officer Lockard was on bike patrol when he heard the call come out over the radio. He used his two-wheel ride to covertly approach a male matching the suspect s description in an alley off of West Cary Street. When the man spotted him, he took off running, but he was no match for the speedy Officer Lockard who gave chase and safely took the man into custody on South Allen Avenue. He was subsequently identified as the thief and charged accordingly. Good work Officer Lockard! Thursday, July 17 You can run from officers, but you can t hide at least not in a tall, fenced-in parking lot. That was the case recently thanks to a great response from several Fourth Precinct officers who were able to identify and arrest a man who broke into a home in Jackson Ward. Officer Paul Gaines was the first officer on scene and after he spoke with the victim, he quickly broadcast the suspect s description.
Officer Darryl Lee was already heading toward the area when he spotted a man on a bicycle matching the suspect s description. When the man saw Officer Lee, he started pedaling faster. Officer Lee attempted to stop the man, but he jumped off the bike and took off running. Officer Lee gave chase and with the assistance of Sergeant Jeremy Nierman and Officer Joseph Balducci, they trapped the suspect in a fenced-in parking lot. A carefully coordinated arrest of the suspect resulted in the discovery of a firearm on his person. After further investigation by Detective Patrick Mansfield, the man was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obstruction of justice. He was later also charged with burglary and grand larceny for another incident during which he was able to steal the firearm he had when arrested. Good work officers! Friday, July 18 Sometimes our officers get help from unexpected sources. This past weekend, it was an 80-year-old retiree who got the drop on a burglar that made the difference. Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, the victim heard a noise downstairs and when he went to investigate, he spotted a man walking into the bathroom. The victim quickly grabbed the door knob, shut the door and held it tightly, preventing the burglar from escaping, while his daughter called police. Several Second Precinct officers arrived on scene within minutes and safely took the man into custody. After being interviewed by Detective Roger Owens, the man confessed to the crime and was charged with burglary. Good work officers and we d like to thank the victim for his assistance in this case! Monday, July 21 To serve, protect and care. That was Fourth Precinct Officer Willie O Neil s motto after he recently stopped to speak with two individuals sitting in a parked car on the city s Northside. After talking with the adult male and his teen daughter, Officer O Neil learned that the man had just lost his job and the pair was sleeping in their car while they tried to find housing and a new job. Officer O Neil then exhausted all of the options officially available to him as he tried to find a place for the family to sleep for the night. Despite all of his efforts, he was unable to find another agency to help provide them a haven. He refused to accept that so he decided to resolve the issue by paying for a hotel room out of his own money so that they would have a safe place to stay. Thank you, Officer O Neil, for your kindness and generosity. Tuesday, July 22 Here s a great example of why we ask our citizens to pay attention and let us know when they see something suspicious. At approximately 10 a.m. one day last week, a citizen called to report a man using bolt cutters to cut a fence and then trying to take an HVAC unit from a residence on Decatur Street. Second Precinct Officer Jean Therency quickly responded to investigate and spotted the suspect who took off running. As the man ran, he dropped a backpack of items and a variety of tools, including bolt cutters. The man eventually ran into a business and tried to hide in the bathroom, but helpful citizens pointed out his location to Officer Therency, who subsequently arrested him without incident. Further investigation with the assistance of Detective Pedro Riddle revealed the man was already wanted on two outstanding felony warrants. Additional charges are pending. This quick arrest would not have been possible without the help of our great citizens. Thank you, citizens, and good work officers! Wednesday, July 23 Thanks to the speedy and coordinated response from Third Precinct officers earlier this month, a man who robbed a trio of young teens in the Fan was quickly found and arrested. Focus Mission Team
Officer Henry Johnson spoke with the victim and broadcast a detailed suspect description and the last known direction of travel. Detective Bill Cutshall updated the possible location after one of the victims used Find My iphone to locate his stolen phone. That s when Officer Jacob DeBoard spotted the suspect walking with a group of people on Idlewood Avenue. The coordinated response by patrol and Focus Mission Team officers resulted in the detention of several individuals, including the primary suspect, who was stopped by Officer Johnson. A victim later identified the primary suspect as the man who robbed him, pointing to his stolen belt around the suspect s waist. Further investigation by Detective Cutshall resulted in the man s arrest for robbery as well as trying to bribe the detective to make the crime go away. Good teamwork officers! Thursday, July 24 First Precinct Officer Shavonte Cotman-Russell recently spotted two men who appeared to be about ready to steal a moped in the city s East End. As they stood next to the moped, Officer Cotman-Russell approached the pair and noticed how nervous they looked as he spoke with them. However, since he hadn t witnessed any crime and there was no victim, he took their information and let them leave. But he didn t stop there. A short time later, he and Officer Kenise Ford found the moped s owner, discovered part of the moped s chain had been cut and located bolt cutters nearby. After further investigation, they took out warrants for tampering with a vehicle, possession of burglary tools and attempted theft. Since they already knew who the suspects were, they had no trouble finding and serving those warrants. Good work officers! Friday, July 25 Kudos to Officer Jason McClendon who was named Second Precinct s Officer of the Month for June! When there s a complaint to be solved in Sector 212, Officer McClendon is often one of the first officers that comes to mind to fix the issue. Last month, Officer McClendon took an active role in reducing robberies and burglaries in his sector and one of the ways he did that was by building better relationships with business owners and community members. He also advised employees about robbery prevention tips. In an effort to reduce crime in the Southwood community, he gets to know the residents and encourages them to report illegal and suspicious behavior. He does this by getting out of his car and doing as much walking patrol as he can. This has resulted in several good community partnerships and the gathering of information about several suspicious individuals in the area. These are just a few examples of why Officer Jason McClendon is our Second Precinct Officer of the Month for June! Thank you and congratulations! Monday, July 28 Kudos to Officer Andrew Nicholson who was named Third Precinct s Officer of the Month for June! From speedy responses to citizen requests to proactive policing, Officer Nicholson is always on the move, constantly looking for ways to make the community an even better place. One of the ways he did that last month was by meeting with several concerned citizens in the Forest View neighborhood to advise them on ways to prevent them from becoming victims of car break-ins and burglaries. He also informed them about trends in nearby neighborhoods to make sure they were fully aware. Officer Nicholson was also quick to respond to a citizen complaint about drug dealing at a residence, setting up surveillance and talking with the residents at the conclusion of his investigation. As a result of his efforts, the residents cleaned up the area and the actions ceased. He s kept on eye on the place since then and seen no further problems. These are just a few of the reasons Officer Andrew Nicholson is our Third Precinct Officer of the Month! Thank you and congratulations!
Tuesday, July 29 Kudos to Officer Donnie Watkins who was named Fourth Precinct s Officer of the Month for June! Officer Watkins is right on the money when it comes to spotting and handling quality of life issues in his sector. One of the reasons he s so successful is his good rapport with business owners who freely communicate their concerns with him because they know he takes them seriously. Businesses are happy to have Officer Watkins patrolling their neighborhoods because they know he takes a no-tolerance approach with vagrants who cause problems as well as with those involved in drugs and sex offenses. Thanks to Officer Watkins good observation skills last month, he spotted and arrested one man trying to hide several narcotics violations in a business parking lot on the Boulevard. On another patrol, he also noticed two individuals engaging in prostitution on another business parking lot nearby and charged them both. These are just two ways Officer Watkins addresses quality of life issues that make the community better for everyone. Thank you, and congratulations to Officer Donnie Watkins our Fourth Precinct Officer of the Month for June! Wednesday, July 30 Kudos to Communications Officer Tiffany Ampy who was named the Department s Communications Officer of the Month for June! Try as they might, our communications officers don t always get as much information as they d like when individuals call 911. That s why we rely on their detailed skills to gather as much information as quickly and kindly as possible when they re dealing with people in crisis. CO Ampy did just that under some of the most serious of circumstances last month when a citizen called to report an individual who had been shot. The caller s only information about location was that they were on Decatur Street near a recycling shop. Even with such limited information, CO Ampy determined that the victim was at Decatur and 25 th streets and quickly dispatched officers. CO Ampy then kept the caller on the phone while she remained patient and demonstrated compassion. She listened intently, evaluating and assessing the situation and asking pertinent questions that provided immediate assistance to the victim. Thanks in large part to her efforts, the victim was quickly located and taken to the hospital where he is now recovering from his injuries. Keep up the great work, Tiffany Ampy, our Communications Officer of the Month for June! Thursday, July 31 Kudos to First Precinct Officer Harold Ford who was named the Department s Problem Solver of the Month for June! Officer Ford took the lead the last month after the precinct received several complaints about an after-hours club in Sector 112. The club was generating several calls for service every weekend and was the nexus for numerous violent crimes in the Blackwell and Manchester neighborhoods as many of the offenders and victim were either heading to or from the club. Over three separate weekends, Officer Ford partnered with ABC agents and conducted operations that culminated in the execution of two search warrants early one morning, charging the club owners with several misdemeanors and alcohol violations. Additionally, other employees were charged with drug and firearm offenses. But the icing on the cake of the endeavor was that in working with city inspectors, the location was condemned due to electrical, plumbing and structural issues. Since the club s closures, several community members have emailed to praise Officer Ford s efforts, saying how thankful they are to finally have some peace and quiet in the area. Thank you and good work, Officer Harold Ford our Problem Solver of the Month for June!