Latest news with #Neudigate
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach Police Chief to discuss Oceanfront safety ahead of summer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate is expected to discuss Oceanfront safety and enforcement Tuesday afternoon ahead of the busier summer months. As more people head towards the beach while the weather heats up, Virginia Beach officials want to make sure everyone stays safe. Following several gun-related incidents over the spring at the Oceanfront, Neudigate is set to discuss some of the challenges his department is facing. Virginia Beach to address challenges of maintaining Oceanfront safety According to police, between April 25-27, over 50 were arrested and nearly 30 guns were confiscated at the Oceanfront. VBPD: 2 separate firearm-related incidents on Atlantic Ave. on Saturday The discussion comes after City Manager Patrick Duhaney said during a city council meeting that Neudigate will look into legislative changes that could implement new crime-fighting strategies. Currently, under the Dillon Rule, however, local governments are only able to do what the Commonwealth has given them permission to do. In May, Duhaney stated that some crimes that were once considered primary offenses were moved to second-tier offenses. '[The chief] is going to point out some things that happened through some General Assembly sessions where the pendulum swung one way, and it may be time that there's appropriate discussion about possibly the pendulum swinging legislatively another way,' Duhaney said. 'You know, some things that used to be primary offenses or moved to second-tier offenses, it may make sense to bring back some of those … back to being primary offenses. They give the police officers some opportunities to be more proactive on addressing some issues.' Neudigate is expected to speak with city councilmembers starting at 2:30 p.m. Continue to check for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fallen VB officers honored in memorial ceremony
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The city of Virginia Beach held its annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, honoring officers who have died in the line of duty — including two recently fallen officers whose loss is still being felt deeply across the community. Complete Coverage: Fallen VBPD Officers Reese and Girvin . Their names were recognized during the ceremony, as families laid roses on the memorial wreath to commemorate their service and sacrifice. 'I brought Cameron with me today,' said Barbara Girvin, the mother of Cameron Girvin. 'He's in my bracelet. And I brought him with me so he could be part of this.' Barbara Girvin also reflected on a recent gathering with her son's former colleagues. 'We got together yesterday with his fellow officers for breakfast,' she said. 'We had a seat at the end of the table that was empty. And we knew Cameron was there in spirit.' Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate spoke about the ongoing impact the officers' deaths have had on the department and the broader community. 'To see the heartbreak on the faces of the mothers and the fathers, knowing that they entrusted their sons to this police department and to this city — and unfortunately, we didn't live up to it,' Neudigate said. 'Time does make it a little bit better. But when you see them, it's all fresh and raw again.' According to Neudigate, the department is working to address these challenges by expanding support services. 'Twenty-five years ago, we would never admit that we were having trouble,' he said. 'That just wasn't part of our profession.' Virginia Beach Police have since hired a full-time clinician and are adding new mental health resources for officers. 'It's not only needed — it's expected,' Neudigate said. 'And if we don't address it now, we'll be addressing it later.' The ceremony was held at the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Memorial at the Oceanfront on 35th Street. Community members, city leaders and families of other fallen officers were also in attendance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Christopher Reese, officer slain execution-style in Virginia Beach, had South Jersey roots
A Virginia police officer killed execution-style during a traffic stop was a South Jersey native and the son of a former Camden City police officer. Patrolman Christopher Reese, 30, was one of two Virginia Beach officers slain during a late-night struggle with a motorist on Feb. 22, authorities say. The Somerdale native and Patrolman Cameron Gervin, 25, were killed by a driver who stepped from his car and pulled out a pistol during a "tussle" at approximately 11:30 p.m., said Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate. Both officers fell to the ground after being shot, and the driver shot each of them a second time, said Neudigate, whose voice quavered during a press conference. A bright light: Deptford police officer remembered by friends, family at memorial Neither officer fired his service weapon, the chief said. The alleged gunman was later found dead from a self-inflicted shot to the head, police said. Reese "attended and graduated from both Somerdale Park School and Sterling High School," the borough's mayor, George Badey, said in a Facebook post Monday. The borough will fly its flags at half-staff to honor Reese, the mayor said. Reese left South Jersey to attend Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach. The 2017 graduate "majored in business and embraced campus life as a dedicated member of Chi Beta Psi," the university said in a post at its website. It noted Reese remained in the area to pursue "his commitment to public safety." He joined the Virginia Beach police department in 2022, after serving since 2019 as a deputy with the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. Law enforcement was a family occupation. The officer's father, George Reese IV, served in the Camden City police department, according to a Facebook post from Gloucester Township's police department. The elder Reese also is president of the Centurions Motorcycle Club South Jersey, founded by Camden police officers in appeals seek to benefit the families of Reese and Girvin, described by their chief "as two heroes that paid the ultimate price for our society." "These officers were not just members of this department; they were family, friends, and heroes," said a Facebook post from the Virginia Beach police force. "Their sacrifice is a painful reminder of the daily dangers our officers face and their unwavering commitment to serve with honor and integrity." The officers, riding together on the night shift, sought to pull over McCoy's car because it had expired license plates, according to Neudigate. The driver did not stop immediately, and became argumentative after the officers followed him onto a dead-end street. A search after the shooting found the suspect, 42-year-old John McCoy III of Virginia Beach, with a gunshot wound to his head, according to Neudigate. McCoy was a convicted felon and, if taken into custody by the officers, would have faced a felony weapons charge, according to the chief. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@ This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Christopher Reese, slain police officer, had South Jersey ties
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Evil found them:' Virginia Beach police chief alleges 2 officers were 'executed' during traffic stop
A convicted felon allegedly "executed" two Virginia police officers at point-blank range as they were already lying on the ground wounded and defenseless following a weekend traffic stop, authorities said. Virginia Beach Police Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, were both pronounced dead early Saturday after being shot multiple times in a "horrific" encounter that was caught on the officers' body cameras and their squad car dashboard camera, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate. "I can tell you from the video that after he executed our officers, he calmly walked away," Neudigate said of the suspect, identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III of Virginia Beach, who police said they found dead from an apparent suicide. Neudigate said it was the first time in 16 years that the Virginia Beach Police Department has lost an officer in a line-of-duty shooting. He said every member of his department "is hurting." "We asked them to go out in this community and keep us safe from evil. And last night, evil found them," Neudigate said during a news conference on Saturday. Girvin and Reese were partnered up Friday night and were assigned to the midnight shift traffic car, Neudigate said. At about 11:27 p.m. on Friday, the officers attempted to stop a blue Hyundai Sonata after noticing it had expired license plate tags. The driver, according to Neudigate, failed to pull over. The chief said the officers followed the car to a dead-end street, where the suspect pulled over and stopped. Neudigate said Girvin and Reese approached the car, which had two people inside, and requested the driver, identified as McCoy, to get out. "The male driver was immediately argumentative, refused to exit the vehicle at the officers' request," Neudigate alleged. "They made numerous requests for him to exit. At some point, he complied with the request, stepped out of the the vehicle." Once out of the car, a "tussle" ensued between McCoy and the officers, Neudigate said. "This individual pulled a pistol from his pocket and immediately shot both VBPD officers," Neudigate said. "Those officers fell to the ground. While on the ground defenseless, he shot them each a second time." Neudigate said responding officers began conducting a grid search for the suspect and found his lifeless body just after midnight Saturday in a shed behind an apartment complex near where the officers were shot. MORE: 1 officer dead, 5 others injured in shooting at Pennsylvania hospital "I can say from our preliminary investigation at this point in time, with everything that we know, leaves us to believe that this is a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Neudigate said of the suspect. "At no time did any of our officers fire shots." The mortally wounded Reese was taken to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Saturday, Neudigate said. Girvin was pronounced dead at Virginia Beach General Hospital around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the chief said. MORE: 3 dead, 2 police officers injured in grocery store shooting in Indiana Both officers were surrounded by immediate family, close friends and fellow officers when they succumbed to their injuries, Neudigate said. "Officers Girvin and Reese, they were dedicated, determined peace officers and public servants," an emotional Neudigate said. "They had stellar reputations in our department, and their work ethic was beyond reproach." He said Reese had been a member of the police department since 2022, having previously worked for the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office between 2019 and 2022. Neudigate said Girvin joined the police department in 2020. Neudigate said investigators are trying to determine a motive for the double homicide. He said McCoy had one felony conviction stemming from 2009, but had the officers found the gun on him, he would have faced a new felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. "I think we all want to know that," Neudigate said of the motive. "But I think only one person does, and that individual is deceased." He said the person in the car with McCoy at the time of the shooting was not arrested and is not facing any charges. Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer led a moment of silence for Reese and Girvin at the start of Saturday's news conference, calling the officers "heroes." "Today our city is heartbroken," Dyer said. "We mourn the loss of two of our own brave Virginia Beach police officers, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their dedication to protecting our community will never be forgotten." 'Evil found them:' Virginia Beach police chief alleges 2 officers were 'executed' during traffic stop originally appeared on
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘This community is hurting': Virginia Beach police identify 2 officers killed after traffic stop for expired plate
VIRGINIA BEACH — Officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese were working the midnight traffic patrol shift late Friday night when they noticed a car with an expired plate and attempted to pull it over. After the driver of the blue Hyundai Sonata failed to stop, the officers followed the vehicle into a townhouse complex near the intersection of Lynnhaven Parkway and Wendfield Drive in the Green Run area, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate. Both officers approached the car and asked the driver to get out, Neudigate said. The man refused. He began to argue with them, and a 'tussle' broke out, the chief said. It ended moments later when the man pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot both officers. 'The officers fell to the ground,' Neudigate said. 'While on the ground, defenseless, he shot them each a second time.' The shooting was captured by both officers' body-worn cameras as well as a dashboard-mounted camera in their police cruiser, the chief said. In the footage, the man, later identified as 42-year-old John Lee McCoy III, is seen calmly walking away, Neudigate said. His body was found in a nearby shed with a gunshot wound to the head. The chief said the wound is believed to have been self-inflicted. He also said there was a passenger in McCoy's car, but that person will not be charged. Reese, 30, was taken to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, where he died a short time later surrounded by family, friends, and fellow officers, Neudigate said. Reese became a Virginia Beach officer in 2022, after having served three years as a deputy sheriff for the city. Girvin, 25, was taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, where he died around 4:30 a.m., also surrounded by loved ones and colleagues. Girvin was sworn in as a Virginia Beach officer in 2020. 'We're hurting,' Neudigate said during a news conference Saturday that was attended by several local and state leaders. 'The department is hurting. The city is hurting. And if you know Virginia Beach, we're a big city, but we're really just a small community, and I can tell you this community is hurting.' Neudigate said McCoy's motive wasn't known. He had a felony conviction from 2009, and if he'd been caught with a gun, he would have faced arrest and possibly another conviction for being a felon with a gun, the chief said. 'I think we all want to know (the motive) but I think only one person knows that and that individual is deceased,' Neudigate said. Traffic stops are among the most dangerous situations a police officer can encounter, said Brian Luciano, a retired officer and executive director of the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association. 'There's a phrase in law enforcement that you have to shake out of your head and that's the idea of a routine traffic stop,' Luciano said. 'There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop.' Nearby residents said they witnessed and heard the event unfold near the intersection of Sylvan Lane and Harbinger Road. Randy Nash said he was outside when he saw officers telling a man in a car to stop resisting as they wrestled with him. Nash then heard gunshots and a scream. He saw officers on the ground before witnessing the man flee through a nearby alley. A few doors over, Tyler Lane said officers filled the area with weapons drawn, instructing residents to stay away from the windows. Lane said he turned over photos he captured after the shooting in hopes of helping the investigation. 'This is an awful situation and it shouldn't have happened,' he said. On Saturday afternoon, officers began putting together a memorial in front of the 4th Precinct, where Girvin and Reese were assigned. It included two patrol vehicles, two blue candles wrapped in black ribbons and several bouquets of flowers and teddy bears. A nearby American flag flew at half-staff. Laura Poyner and Charlotte Gomez were among visitors who stopped by to pay respects. 'It's just senseless,' said Poyner, a city employee who works alongside many officers. 'Over an expired license plate? …Your heart hurts for their families.' Gomez lives within walking distance of where the shooting occurred. 'It's heartbreaking,' she said. Since 1898, 15 Virginia Beach officers have been killed in the line of duty, according to the Virginia Beach Police Foundation. This weekend's deaths brought the number to 17. The last time a city police officer was killed in the line of duty was August 2008. That incident also occurred in the Green Run area. Detective Michael Smith Phillips, 37, was sitting in a pickup, preparing to make an undercover buy from a suspected drug dealer when the man's accomplice walked up and shot him three times. Phillips, an Air Force veteran and a married father of two, died at the scene. The shooter, Ted Vincent Carter, then 23, pleaded guilty to murdering Phillips and received a life sentence. Marshall Demetrius Moyd, then 26, was found guilty of murder and robbery at trial and was sentenced to 68 years. In June 2003, officer Rodney Pocceschi was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on Dam Neck Road. Pocceschi, 33, made the stop after getting a call about a robbery at a nearby restaurant. The suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire with the officer. Donations to help support the families of Girvin and Reese are being collected by the Virginia Beach Police Foundation through it's website at Jake Jacoks, a former Virginia Beach police chief and the president of the foundation, said every penny donated will go to the families. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, Jane Harper,
