What to Know
- The City of Alexandria commissioned the IACP to review the police department's police patrol and investigations staffing levels.
- The study called the police department "a well-run agency." The recommendations are to improve safety rather than fix problems.
A study examining the Alexandria Police Department recommended adjusting staffing levels to improve efficiency and emphasize police work within communities.
The study recommended the police department allocate more officers to neighborhood patrols. To implement this, the police would need to add 18 patrol officers and five traffic officers. The study also recommended changes in the department’s investigation division to improve efficiency.
The City of Alexandria commissioned The International Associaciation of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to review the police department’s police patrol and investigations staffing levels. The suggestions are to improve public safety rather than identify deficiencies in the department.
The IACP said overall, the Alexandria Police Department is “a well-run agency, with conscientious staff at all levels and in all categories.” They said the department “provides high-quality service that residents greatly appreciate.”
The study marks the first step in a plan to modify police staffing. The plan will use stakeholder input, budget analysis and policy decisions by the City Council.
“We want to make data-driven decisions about how to keep our community safe and support our law enforcement personnel,” City Manager Mark Jinks said.
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Police Chief Earl Cook said the department constantly wants to improve despite historic lows in the crime rate.
“Staffing adjustments, combined with a renewed commitment to community policing, can help reduce crime even further,” he said.
