Williamsburg Police Annual Report 2021

CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Chief’s Message

Dear Community Members,

With the formation of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) in December 2021, the Williamsburg Police Department fulfilled an important promise we made to the community and City Council. This six-member committee is dedicated to bettering the community’s relationship with the department, offering their invaluable insight on our police practices.

The City of Williamsburg long ago adopted a community policing philosophy, and the CAC is only the latest development to come from this approach. The CAC members will become more familiar with our department throughout 2022, and I look forward to their input over the next year and beyond. I am thrilled to introduce the six members to you in the pages of this Annual Report.

Community policing is at the heart of everything we do at the Williamsburg Police Department. Throughout the year, our officers are working with community members, organizations, and neighborhoods on special projects and outreach events. I am enormously proud of our officers and our community for continually putting in the work to strengthen that relationship. I truly believe that a community policing philosophy makes our City safer for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.

In the next year, we will make significant progress on the design of a new police station. We have already identified the location – next to the Municipal Building on Lafayette Street – and we look forward to the design and planning phase of the project. I’m certain we will have much more about the new station in next year’s report.

Sincerely, Sean L. Dunn Chief of Police

VISION STATEMENT

To work in partnership with the citizens of Williamsburg, providing a safe and secure environment consistent with community values, with an emphasis on responsive community-based policing, integrity, fairness, and professionalism.

ABOUT US

Law enforcement in Williamsburg has evolved from the reactive form of enforcement during the colonial era to the “Town Sergeant” concept in 1930 to the proactive, community-oriented police department of today. The York-Poquoson-Williamsburg Emergency Communications Center dispatches police, fire, and emergency medical services using the most modern E911 system currently available.

The Williamsburg Police Department has more than 40 sworn officers, comprising a highly trained, community-engaged staff. We are committed to partnering with our community; we value service, integrity, and respect for all; and we strive for quality through continuous improvement.

WPD is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CALEA Accredited

The Williamsburg Police Department has been accredited by the prestigious Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since July 12, 1987. Since that time, WPD has been reaccredited nine times. WPD is currently in the reaccreditation process for the 10th time; an announcement is expected in the fall of 2022.

BY THE NUMBERS

of sworn officers are military veterans

of sworn officers are from minority groups

of sworn officers identify as female

PERSONNEL

SEAN DUNN

Chief of police

Sean Dunn was appointed as Williamsburg’s Police Chief in June 2017. Prior to Williamsburg, Dunn served as police chief in Martinsville, Virginia, where he led the creation of a totally integrated community policing department with a philosophy of community engagement and responsiveness to community concerns, as well as an emphasis on intelligence-led policing.

Chief Dunn began his law enforcement career as a sworn police officer in Portsmouth in 1993. He worked his way up the ranks from uniform patrol officer to Commander (Major) in the Portsmouth (Va.) Police Department. His responsibilities included patrol operations, criminal investigations, crime analysis, crime prevention, public affairs, emergency communications, and community policing. He left Portsmouth to become Chief of Police in Martinsville in 2014.

Chief Dunn holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He also attended the Dale Carnegie Leadership Program and the Vann H. Lefcoe Leadership Program.

Chief Dunn has served on several boards and is currently a member of the International Association for Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Alumni, Police Executive Research Forum, Virginia and Hampton Roads Association for Chiefs of Police, the Salvation Army Williamsburg Advisory Board, and the Avalon Center Board of Directors.

Brian Carlsen

Deputy Chief of Police

Brian Carlsen has served as Deputy Chief of Police since June 2019. In this role, he oversees the Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Professional Services Bureaus, implementing the Chief’s vision. Deputy Chief Carlsen is responsible for the professional delivery of a wide range of operational and administrative police services, including policy development and the coordination of efforts with community partners, interdepartmental staff, and outside local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Deputy Chief Carlsen joined the Williamsburg Police Department in July 2001, starting in patrol and moving through the ranks as an investigator, sergeant, lieutenant, and major. He is a graduate of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the University of Richmond’s Professional Executive Leadership School; the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police; and session 79 of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He also holds a Master of Business Administration in security management and public administration from DeVry University.

PERSONNEL

Bruce Johnson

Criminal Investigations Bureau Commander

Maj. Bruce Johnson oversees the Criminal Investigations Bureau, which is responsible for follow-up investigations of crimes committed against persons or property that require a degree of specialization or a centralized investigative approach. This bureau also conducts background checks for prospective employees and handles the property and evidence control for the department.

Maj. Johnson, a native of Williamsburg, began his career with the Williamsburg Police Department in 2004 and primarily served in the patrol division until his current appointment overseeing the Criminal Investigations Bureau. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University and graduated from the University of Richmond’s Professional Executive Leadership School.

David Jay

Uniform Patrol Bureau Commander

As commander of the Uniform Patrol Bureau, Maj. David Jay supervises lieutenants, sergeants, and officers; assigns personnel; evaluates work performance; enforces policy and regulations; and inspects patrol activities. Jay also contributes to short- and long-term planning for the police department, including budget planning and management.

Maj. Jay began his career with the William & Mary Police Department before joining the Williamsburg Police Department in 2007. During his WPD tenure, Jay has primarily served in the patrol division, rising to the rank of lieutenant before taking the helm of the Uniform Patrol Bureau. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and a Master of Business Administration degree from William & Mary.

Ashley Nichols

Professional Services Bureau Commander

Acting Maj. Ashley Nichols was appointed to oversee the Professional Services Bureau in December 2021. She supervises the Community Engagement Unit, which comprises two School Resource Officers and one Community Engagement Officer, as well as the Parking Ambassador program. Nichols also serves as the records custodian for the department, handles all Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests, and oversees the records department. She also handles all hiring and promotional processes.

Nichols began her career with the Williamsburg Police Department in 2015. She has experience working in all three bureaus of the department, previously serving as a patrol officer and patrol supervisor, as well as an investigator assigned to a regional drug task force. Prior to her career in law enforcement, Nichols attended Old Dominion University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology. Nichols is currently attending the inaugural session of the Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute, hosted by Virginia Tech and the Virginia chapter of Women Leading Government.

Personnel Retirements & Awards

Retirements

Maj. Don Janderup retired at the end of 2021 after 20 years of service with the Williamsburg Police Department. After more than 20 years in retail management, Janderup pursued a career in law enforcement, where he rose through the ranks as officer, investigator, sergeant, and major. He retired as Major of the Professional Services Bureau.

Senior Police Officer Aundrea Holiday retired in June 2020 after 20 years of service.

Maj. Janderup and Officer Holiday are each recipients of the City of Williamsburg’s Excellence in Service Award. We thank them both for their dedication and service through the years.

The City of Williamsburg recorded zero roadway deaths for 2021.

AWARDS

Meritorious Service Medal: Senior Police Officer Aundrea Holiday

The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to an officer who distinguishes themselves in a manner that clearly exceeds what is normally required or expected for a highly creditable police accomplishment. This is the second highest award that can be given to an officer.

Senior Police Officer Aundrea Holiday

Major Don Janderup

Life Saving Medal: Officer Derek Roberts* Officer Claire Owens Officer Paul Ray

Greater Hampton Roads Crime Line Top Cop: Officer Stephen Roberts Jr.

In addition to excelling in his role as a Neighborhood Resource Officer, Officer Stephen Roberts Jr. demonstrated ingenuity in his collaboration with residents of an apartment complex as he arranged for the delivery of decoy packages as part of an investigation into a series of package thefts.

Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers: Law Enforcement: Officer Derek Roberts for selflessly assisting with CPR on a known COVID-19 positive patient. In addition, his quick-thinking to use both Naloxone and an AED on two patients in two separate incidents was instrumental in saving their lives.

Civilian: Elsa Korrigan, administrative assistant with the City of Williamsburg’s Human Services Department, for regularly and skillfully providing Spanish translation services to criminal investigations, assisting Williamsburg investigators with numerous interviews and investigations.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Award: Officer Jonathan Gonce

The MADD award is given to officers for their work in the fight against drunk and impaired driving. Officer Jonathan Gonce made 12 DUI arrests and participated in DUI checkpoints in 2021.

*Received the award twice for two separate events

Officer Derek Roberts Elsa Korrigan

Community Engagement

The Williamsburg Police Department strongly embraces the philosophy of community policing in all its daily operations and functions. Community policing is based on a partnership whereby the police and the community share responsibility for identifying, preventing, reducing, and eliminating problems that affect community safety. By working together, the police and the community can reduce crime and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods citywide.

Our Community Engagement Unit comprises two school resource officers (SRO) and the Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Officer.

identifying, preventing, reducing, & eliminating problems

Community Engagement

HIGHLIGHTS

Food, Supplies, & Toy Drives

The Williamsburg Police Department partners with the City’s Human Services Department on several annual collections in support of the Williamsburg community. The Back-to-School Drive, Thanksgiving Stuff the Trailer Drive, and Holiday Toy Drive are collaborative efforts to help City families in need during particularly stressful seasons and holidays.

Education

Throughout the year, WPD officers participate in panels, talks, and seminars to discuss current law enforcement practices and help educate the next generation of law enforcement professionals. In the spring of 2021, Inv. Heather Ziegler spoke with the criminal justice students at the Woodside campus of New Horizons Regional Education Centers about crime scene investigation and fingerprinting.

Outreach

WPD officers regularly participate in special events to connect with Williamsburg residents, businesses, and visitors. These outreach efforts build trust between the Williamsburg community and officers, raise public awareness of the department’s programs and services, and teach residents and businesses about crime prevention awareness.

Community Engagement

Neighborhood Resource Officers PROGRAM DISTRICT MAP

The Williamsburg Police Department’s Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) Program divides the City of Williamsburg into 17 districts and assigns an officer to each district. Through this program officers build relationships within their districts, providing residents a point of contact when neighborhood-specific, non-emergency issues arise.

See an interactive district map and the assigned officers at williamsburgva.gov/NROmap

Community Engagement

Citizen Advisory Committee

The newly formed Citizen Advisory Committee provides a forum for the Williamsburg Police Department and members of the community to address public safety and related issues. This six-member panel reviews and addresses items that would potentially reinvigorate the relationship between residents and the department. Learn more about the CAC at williamsburgva.gov/CAC.

Malika Blume has been a City of Williamsburg resident since 2012 and volunteers with local organizations, such as Avalon Center and Salvation Army. Currently the manager of Internal Audit with Hampton Roads Transit, Malika’s professional career includes 10 years of audit experience in both the public and private sectors. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and the vice president of the Omicron Xi Zeta Chapter located in Williamsburg.

John Morgan has been a resident of Williamsburg for six years, moving to the City upon retirement after 30 years as a practicing attorney. Prior to law school, John worked as a Virginia Probation and Parole Officer. He is active locally as a Board member of the Heritage Humane Society and as chair of the City of Williamsburg Social Services Advisory Board. Post-retirement, John stays active with Bruton Parish Church, runs a personal training business, and referees soccer for local high school and club programs.

Cody Armstrong is a 757 native who graduated from William & Mary in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in public policy. In 2021, Cody worked as an intern for the City of Williamsburg as part of the City Manager’s Internship Program. During his time at William & Mary, Cody was a Head Resident for Residence Life and a Class of 2022 Senator in the 329th Student Assembly. After graduation, Cody will move to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career in political advocacy and public service.

Malika Blume // Chair

John Morgan // VICE Chair

Cody Armstrong

FULFILLING A PROMISE

The formation of the Citizen Advisory Committee implements an initiative outlined by City Council during its 2021-22 Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes process. This initiative asked the department to institute an advisory board to help inform police department decisions regarding policy, reporting, and strategic planning, all in an effort to achieve the City’s goal of “Prioritizing Safety and Wellness.”

CAC members serve two-year terms. Those interested in serving on the CAC can apply at williamsburgva.gov/CAC. Applications remain on file for two years.

Charles S. Gates

Charles Gates is a high-energy, no-nonsense speaker and presentation coach. He is a former Marine with 30 years as corporate trainer. He helps business owners bottle their messages in 15 words or less and deliver with power and poise. Charles currently serves as the Community Coordination Committee chair with the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP chapter and is a past district director and region advisor with Toastmasters International.

Ryan Williams

Ryan Williams is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Williamsburg in the fall of 2017. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. After years of group fitness and personal training, he now works at Orangetheory Fitness. He is a professional natural bodybuilder but is also an avid cheesecake enthusiast. Ryan believes in taking action to achieve the change you want to see, which is why he wanted to be a part of the CAC.

Shannon D. Woloszynowski

Shannon Woloszynowski is the executive director of Williamsburg House of Mercy and a retired Fairfax County Police detective. She is the previous Board Chair of the Greater Williamsburg Outreach Mission, and currently serves on the boards of NAMI-Williamsburg, Hope Family Village, and Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center. Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from The George Washington University, and a master’s degree in moral theology with a focus on bioethics from Christendom College.

FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET

consisting of three divisions

The Police division budget increased $23,533

0.51%* *This increase is attributed to increased budgeting for gasoline and vehicle maintenance for the police take home vehicle program.

The Police Department comprises of the City’s general fund budget

Ended FY21 with a budget surplus of $275,000*

*A significant portion of this savings is attributed to police officer vacancies within the department

of the department’s operating budget is personnel costs

In funding for the department’s take home vehicle program and the body-worn camera and taser project in the FY22 CIP budget.

The replacement of the police station is planned as a FY23 project in the CIP, with a funding amount to be determined at that time.

Crime Statistics

The Williamsburg Police Department keeps meticulous records of all calls, reports, incidents, and arrests within the City of Williamsburg. Much of that data is submitted to the Virginia State Police’s Data Analysis and Reporting Team (DART), which collects crime statistics from departments throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and creates the annual Crime in Virginia report.

In this section, you will find crime statistics that WPD collected throughout 2021. For more data and resources than listed in this report, visit williamsburgva.gov/crimestatistics.

Calls for Service

Every time a person calls 911, the non-emergency line, or an officer initiates a police action, it is documented as a call for service.

Reported Crime

Group A Offenses

Crimes Against Persons 2018 2019 2020 2021

Murder & Nonnegligent Manslaughter 0 0 0 2

Negligent manslaughter 0 0 0 0

Kidnapping/Abduction 1 6 9 6

Forcible Rape 1 3 4 3

Forcible Sodomy 2 0 1 1 Sexual Assault with an Object 0 0 2 2 Forcible Fondling 6 8 9 10 Incest 0 0 0 0

Statutory Rape 0 0 1 0

Aggravated Assault 10 14 14 33 Simple Assault 129 127 141 128 Intimidation 13 31 8 10

Human Trafficking, Commercial Sex Acts 0 0 0 0 Human Trafficking, Involuntary Servitude 0 0 0 0

Crimes Against Property 2018 2019 2020 2021 Arson 0 0 1 2 Bribery 0 0 1 0 Burglary/Breaking & Entering 5 13 14 3 Counterfieting/Forgery 21 11 6 13

Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property 83 69 97 131 Embezzlement 7 7 11 6 Extortion/Blackmail 1 1 2 3

False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Game 28 60 43 40 Credit Card/Automatic Teller Fraud 25 14 6 12 Impersonation 11 3 2 2 Welfare Fraud 0 0 0 1 Wire Fraud 2 1 1 1 Identity Theft 0 0 0 7 Hacking/Computer Invasion 0 0 0 0 Robbery 7 5 0 8 Pocket-picking 0 2 1 0 Purse-snatching 0 2 0 0 Shoplifting 27 24 20 29 Theft from Building 38 32 17 30 Theft from Coin Operated Machine or Device 0 0 0 0 Theft from Motor Vehicle 39 44 56 40 Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts/Accessories 7 12 14 16 All Other Larceny 71 64 54 73 Motor Vehicle Theft 8 5 14 6 Stolen Property Offenses 6 3 0 3

*State began tracking data for this offense in 2021

Part I Crimes

Part I Crimes, defined as crimes that fundamentally impact quality of life in a locality, are an index of eight more serious offenses.

Motor Vehicle-Related Crime

Though WPD saw an increase in

nearly

a

Use of Force

Out of more than 38,000 calls for service and 262 arrests in which a person was taken into custody, Williamsburg Police officers used force or presented weapons 34 times in 2021.

No officer-involved shootings nor any use-of-force fatalities or serious injuries occurred in 2021. One officer was assaulted during one encounter.

Complaint Statistics

In 2021, WPD received 3 formal complaints — 2 external and 1 internal — against personnel. One of these complaints was sustained, meaning that the officer’s actions were found to be either unlawful or against policy.

A final disposition of “exonerated” means the investigation found the incident did occur but the officer’s actions were found to be lawful and consistent with department policy. “Unfounded” means the investigation determined the allegation to be false or without credible, supportive evidence.

The City of Williamsburg has participated in the National Community Survey — previously called the National Citizen Survey — since 2008 to help in the development of its biennial Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes document, an outline of the City’s priorities. The NCS was last conducted in the Summer of 2020. The survey results in a report about the livability of Williamsburg, and residents gave the City government high marks for its public safety work.

Community