Latest news with #VirginiaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Virginia AG discusses law enforcement partnerships and initiatives among SWVA agencies
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made a stop at the Bristol, Virginia Police Department on Monday to talk about the law enforcement partnerships on combating crime against the most vulnerable populations. Miyares was joined by Bristol, Virginia Police Chief Byron Ashbrook, Sheriff Tyrone Foster and Del. Israel O'Quinn. There was a heavy focus on the TRIAD program, a partnership between law enforcement, seniors, and senior organizations aimed at combating crime specifically targeting that group. Those at the press conference say scammers are becoming more advanced, so they want to make seniors aware of what could happen. And they say that loneliness is another epidemic among them. 'TRIAD is the definition of a partnership. It's about bringing law enforcement, senior citizens, and volunteers working together to help our aging population,' Miyares said. 'They're both getting information of what's happening in their community, tips from law enforcement as well as how to protect themselves but they're also doing something invaluable from a mental health standpoint, which is connecting seniors with other seniors and building friendships as a result.' Miyares says one in five Virginians are over the age of 65. In Southwest Virginia, they make up 22% of the population. He also called the partnership here a model for the rest of the Commonwealth. 'Seniors are often very engaged in their communities. They have something that a lot of us don't necessarily have that's very valuable and that's time,' Del. O'Quinn said. 'So they can pitch in and make this program better and bigger and more valuable for their friends and neighbors.' Starting July 1, the Bristol, Virginia Police Department will have a detective dedicated to crimes against children and the elderly. 'We are pulling one of the units from patrol. We are fully staffed now so one of those units will be going to the [Criminal Investigations Division] to help streamline this process in both elder abuse cases and child victims of crime cases,' Chief Ashbrook said. 'It's really important to have that continuity of care so child victims aren't seeing multiple different detectives because they go through a process if they've been a victim of crime or even a witness of crime through our children's advocacy center and through the court system and having one officer, one detective to be able to handle all that is important.' Another vulnerable population they want to focus on is those suffering mental health crises. BVPD has a co-response with the Community Support Program through the Department of Social Services. 'I'm not a mental health clinician, I'm not a doctor, but if I can keep the clinician safe and I can get the clinician to the scene, and they can do their work then it's the right response for the right type of call and it can help de-escalate situations,' Ashbrook said. 'We've seen it work in the past.' The Bristol, Virginia Sheriff's Office already has several initiatives in place to help keep children and seniors safe, including the D.A.R.E. drug awareness program, providing child identification kits, Project Lifesaver (a rapid response program for those who wander away from their caregivers), the One Pill Can Kill program, and Drug Take Back days. Sheriff Tyrone Foster says his office has provided Highlands Community Services with a deputy for the Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center along with a location for the Mount Rogers Health District's Mobile Integrative Health Service Unit, which focuses on behavioral and mental health services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
From committing crimes, to preventing them: 1-on-1 sit down with Urbana PD's Chief Boone
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — In February, WCIA celebrates Black History Month and introduces viewers to influential people making a difference. One of those leaders is Larry Boone, Urbana's Police Chief. He stepped into the role in 2023 but has law enforcement experience spanning decades. However, he never pictured himself in a role like this to begin with. Growing up in New Brunswick, New Jersey, wasn't always easy for Boone. 'Looking out my window to the university, everything was very bright. Where I lived, everything was very dark,' he explained. 'Growing up in a single-parent household infested with drugs, most of my heroes at the time were drug dealers.' Chatham Police recognize sergeant for saving woman's life Boone said there weren't many 'officer friendlies' and when the cops came to his area, that typically meant someone was going to jail. Before turning 18, he was arrested twice. 'Only through the grace of God and good people, was I able to change my environment, and from there, things were brighter,' he described. Boone was sent to live in Georgia with his grandparents and turn his life around. That's when things started to change, especially after one particular football game in college. 'I happened to make a tackle on the sideline, and on the sideline, there was an African American police officer. I hadn't seen one of those before,' he said with a laugh. Four arrested during Gibson City area drug ring bust That was the moment he knew he'd be a cop, regardless of his background. Boone spent 32 years with the Norfolk, Virginia Police Department, where he ultimately was named chief. In the department's 252-year history, he said he was the only officer to hold every rank. Now, he's bringing his experience to Urbana, where he has been the chief for about a year and a half. In Central Illinois, one of his main focuses is connecting with the community. 'I have this saying, and I say this to young folks all the time, 'the me I see, is the me I'll be.'' That phrase was big and bold when his previous department was featured in the International Association of Police Chiefs magazine. The magazine also featured the 'cop-sicle,' an ice cream truck program Boone kickstarted while out east. 'The difficult stuff is coming out of your shell, making yourself vulnerable, going into communities that you typically wouldn't go into unless you're called, but the way to build relationships is you go there when nothing is going on,' Boone explained. ADM planning to cut 600-700 jobs in cost-cutting plan for 2025 He hopes to motivate the younger generation in Champaign County by sharing his story and making unique connections. 'Regardless of your circumstances, you can be pretty much whatever you want to be if you put the effort into it,' the chief said. His story is a perfect example of that, while he tries to make a difference in the city he now calls home. 'You got to put hands on and once you put hands on, you don't let those hands off. You continue to follow them and see how life is going with them,' he reiterated. Boone said he's the second African American chief to serve Urbana and is excited to see the changes that come in the years ahead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
