2022 Fredericksburg Police Department Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Fredericksburg

Police Department

Aboutour

Agency

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a premier law enforcement agency committed to delivering unparalleled service.

Our Values

Abundant Compassion

Agile Innovation

Essential Engagement

Energized Work Environment

Outstanding Customer Service

Unwavering Stewardship

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide exceptional public safety services in partnership with our community to improve the quality of life for all.

We do this by continually strengthening our culture, which values training, ethics, professionalism, and accountability.

Messagefrom

PoliceChiefLayton

FortheFredericksburgPoliceDepartment,2022wasaprosperousyear.TheDepartments Leadership Team reexamined the agency ' s strategic plan in January. Over several months, theteamspentnumeroushoursshapingandmoldingtheexistingstrategicplantocreatea moreinclusiveanddynamiconethatwillguideusoverthenextthreeyears.Byfocusingon fivekeyareas,theDepartmentwillbereadytomeetthechallengesofmodernpolicingwhile maintainingthetrustandrespectofCityresidents,youth,andbusinessowners.

Withtheriseofschoolviolencenationwide,theDepartmentfeltcompelledtostrengthen its relationship with the Fredericksburg City Public Schools Administration and faculty. Representatives from the Patrol Division and Command staff started meeting monthly with School Administration to have timely and critical conversations about school safety. The synergybetweenthePoliceDepartmentandschooladministrationhasbeenimpressiveand yieldedessentialprogramsthatwillhelpkeepfacultyandstudentssafe.

Dr. Noam Shpancer, a professor of psychology at Purdue University, wrote, "Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where youre going." The Department continued laying a roadmap for ensuring all employees have training andaccesstomentalhealthandwellnessresources.Inadditiontoensuringouremployeeshaveaccesstomentalhealthresources, theDepartmentseizedagrantopportunity.TheagencywasawardedlimitedfundingthroughtheLawEnforcementMentalHealthand WellnessActthatwillprovideregionallawenforcementaccesstotraumaandresilienceworkshopsandcounselingoverthenexttwo years.Ensuringourofficersarementallyhealthywillgiveourcommunityhigh-qualityservice.

I often end my messages to the Department by telling them our future is bright. I truly believe this and am humbled to lead our agencyonthisjourney.

Employee

Resilience&Wellness

After surviving the COVID pandemic and civil unrest in 2020, Chief Layton realized how critical employee mental health is in delivering exceptional service to the City of Fredericksburg. Every day, first responders engage with people in crisis and those havingtheworstdayoftheirlives.Thethingsfirstresponderswitnesscantbeunseen,yettheyhavetocompartmentalizewhat they just experienced and move on to the next call. Chief Layton prioritized securing funding to provide mental health and wellnessresourcestoallDepartmentstaff.

Inthespring,theDepartmentprovidedthe"FirstResponderResilience"workshopbyDr.TaniaGlenntoallofitsemployees.Dr. Glenn specializes in creating programs to mitigate traumatic stress and assist first responders in returning to normalcy. During the workshop, Dr. Glenn educated first responders on how stress from their job impacts their lives and provided critical coping toolsandtechniques.

Inthefall,theFredericksburgPoliceDepartmentwasoneof49agenciesnationwideawardedlimitedfundingthroughtheLaw EnforcementMentalHealthandWellnessAct.During2023and2024,the42memberagenciesthatcomprisetheRappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy will receive access to trauma and resilience workshops from mental health providers specializinginhelpingfirstrespondersandtheirfamilies.The$174,000grantsecuredTaniaGlennandAssociates,PA,toprovide mentalhealthtrainingtofirstresponders.Inadditiontothetraining,thegrantwillallowlawenforcementofficersstrugglingwith traumaandstresstohaveconfidentialcounselingsessionswithoneofTaniaGlennandAssociates'mentalhealthprofessionals.

InOctober,theFredericksburgPoliceDepartmentheld its second annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for employee wellness programs and activities. Ninety-three golfers participated. 13 businesses committed to title sponsorship, with an additional 20 sponsoring the event. The tournament raised over $20,000. With the funds raised, the Fredericksburg Police Department catered a holiday meal for all employees. The Department plans to hostemployeewellnesseventsthroughout2023.

Department EXCELLENCE

Traffic Stop Turns Into Lifesaving Situation

On May 19th at approximately 4:00 a.m., Officer Durham was conducting patrol on Emancipation Hwy and witnessed a vehicle speeding. He initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, and, as he approached it, the driver immediately leaned out the window and said his young daughter was choking. With the father's permission, Officer Durham picked up the child to assess her well-being. The child was still conscious as he spoke to her; however, it was evident she was choking on something, and her airway was blocked. Officer Durham immediately called for EMS and more assistance. As EMS was en route, Officer Durham turned the child over to her stomach and began to give her back pats to dislodge whatever was blocking her airway. Although Officer Durham was highly concerned, he stayed composed to keep everyone calm and focused on helping the little girl. Just three minutes later, Officer Zecher and Officer Kraft arrived and began assisting with first aid. Officer Zecher and Officer Kraft worked together to keep the child's airway open. EMS arrived shortly after and took over first aid. After a tense and stressful few minutes, the child's airway was free, and she was talking again. Situations like this give us goosebumps, make our stomachs drop, and make us want to hug our loved ones a little tighter than usual. The quick actions of these officers are truly remarkable.

Proactive Police Work Leads to Arrests

On June 14th, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Officer Norman saw two Toyota Prius’ parked near one another in the Stratford Square Apartment Complex. Knowing that over the last few months, Fredericksburg has seen an increase in catalytic converter thefts, one vehicle make-and-model routinely targeted is the Toyota Prius, Officer Norman parked his patrol car across the street from the Prius’ and wrote reports. While writing reports, Officer Norman noticed a car enter the apartment complex parking lot and stop in front of the vehicles. Upon approaching the Prius, Officer Norman heard the sound of a saw and observed a man underneath one of the vehicles. Officer Norman gave commands to the person not to move. The subject disregarded his orders and he jumped in the passenger side of the car and fled the scene. Officer Norman gave nearby officers a description of the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. After a short pursuit, the suspect vehicle was stopped and the three occupants, who were from North Carolina, were taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle revealed a saw and several catalytic converters. All three occupants were charged related to the incident.

City Law Enforcement Save a Woman's Life

On December 13th just after 8:00 p.m., Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant T. Merrell was driving home after playing the part of Mrs. Claus for the Public Safety Santa Run when she saw a young woman on the Falmouth Bridge bending over the railing looking down. Something didn’t feel right to Lieutenant Merrell, so she turned her vehicle around to check on the young woman. After doing two U-turns, Lieutenant Merrell found the woman in the same spot with one leg hanging over the bridge. Lieutenant Merrell immediately called for assistance over her police radio. Still dressed from head to toe in her Mrs. Claus dress, boots, glasses, and wig, Lieutenant Merrell approached the woman and started using her crisis intervention skills. Fredericksburg Police Patrol Sergeant A. Lynch was also driving home after working the Santa Run and pulled over to assist Lieutenant Merrell. FSO Lieutenant Merrell and FPD Sergeant Lynch worked as a team and were able to safely pull the 25-year-old woman off the railing. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she received mental health assistance. Lieutenant Merrell and Sergeant Lynch flawlessly utilized their crisis intervention skills. The most amazing part of this story is that Lieutenant Merrell and Sergeant Lynch typically take a different route home. Call it divine intervention or fate, these officers were meant to take the route they did and help save this woman ’ s life.

City Law Enforcement Collects Items for Local Domestic Violence Shelter Affected by Fire

In July, Empowerhouse’s shelter for survivors of domestic violence experienced a destructive fire in the middle of the night. Fortunately, everyone evacuated safely. However, the storage room with supplies for survivors and their children who stay at the shelter was completely destroyed. Everything had to be tossed due to fire, smoke, or water damage. During October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Fredericksburg Police Department (FPD) and the Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office (FSO) collected items for Empowerhouse to help rebuild their stock of supplies. FPD and FSO hosted two donation drives at the Central Park Walmart and collected donations at headquarters. The community responded immediately generously donating truckloads of essentials to restock the shelter. Empowerhouse was in awe and appreciative of the community's support.

Department Adds Hybrid Ve

The Fredericksburg Police Department mo three hybrid patrol vehicles. The 2021 Ford Po rated hybrid police SUV with improved perfor reduced CO2 emissions compared to traditiona can also provide added benefits when conside police use.

Department Strengthens Relationship with City Schools

In June, the Department met with members of the Fredericksburg City Public Schools administration, the Fredericksburg Sheriff's Office, and Fredericksburg Fire Department to facilitate conversation about school safety. The group reviewed the School Crisis, Emergency Management, and Medical Emergency Response Plan. Additional topics discussed included law enforcement access to all buildings, school staff training, security camera upgrades, and a continued partnership between all agencies. The group met monthly to discuss school safety and how they can work together to ensure City schools are safe.

In September, the Department participated in the City Schools Family Academy Safety Forum. Attendees had the opportunity to discuss their concerns for school safety with Chief Layton and School Resource Officer Brown-Kaleopaa and learn about programs created to keep students and faculty safe.

Also in September, the Department hired a second full-time School Resource Officer, Chris Florio, who mainly serves at Walker Grant Middle School. Additionally, the Department purchased and installed Breach Kits at every school. These kits contain several tools law enforcement can use to breach a door in the event of an active shooter situation.

K9Unit

In 2021, Virginia State legislation changed its marijuana laws, which meant our twok9s,whoweretrainedtoalertformarijuana,couldnolongerworkforourlaw enforcement agency or any in the Commonwealth of Virginia. One of our k9s went to work for the Richland Police Department in Georgia and the other went into early retirement and moved to the west coast. The Department made it a priority to revitalize the k9 Unit and during 2022, three new teams were created. All three teams are trained in obedience, tracking/trailing, article searches, area searches,buildingsearches,apprehension,andnarcoticsdetection.

K9 Roxy

K9 Rudi

K9 Raider

Promotions

PaulChewning

PromotedtoSergeant

JoePorter

PromtoedtoSergeant

RobertRivers

PromotedtoSergeant

OliviaBrooks

PromotedtoCommunications Supervisor

Crime&Narcotic

Statistics

This statistical chart represents the number ofreportedmajorcrimesfrom2018to2022.

The data in the chart may differ from data published in the Virginia State Police Crime Report and/or previous FPD annual reports for one or more reasons, most commonly becausethecasestatusorclassificationofa report may have changed since the publicationofeitherdocument.

32 narcotic arrests

22 direct indictments

17 search warrants executed

5 federal indictments

Approximately $18,225 in seizures related to drug cases. Investigations included distributions of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA,LSD,andpills.

PhotographyCredit:HyperboleandKittCreative

Producedby:SarahMorris