The Richmond Public Safety Initiative
Easy to understand. Great for Richmond.
If adopted, this Charter Amendment will protect and strengthen public safety services in the City of Richmond by establishing stable, transparent, and accountable funding for police, emergency response, and community safety programs, and establishing a minimum police staffing policy. The measure is designed to preserve local control over municipal public safety decisions, provide for long-term planning and transparency, and ensure that Richmond maintains the personnel and resources necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents, businesses, and neighborhoods throughout the City.
The Grand Jury and Independent City Studies
After years of defunding the Richmond Police Department, independent studies commissioned by the city, and the County Grand Jury found that the Richmond Police Department is severely understaffed. This means longer police response times, fewer neighborhood safety options, and highly qualified police officers unwilling to work in Richmond. Those studies found that to meet basic safety standards, Richmond needs 187 police officers. Today the city is only budgeted for 147. The Richmond Public Safety Funding Initiative will enable Richmond to fully staff its police department, and add paramedics to Richmond's fire department to ensure that life-saving care is available citywide.