RPD cruiser set on fire
A parked Richmond police cruiser was found early today on fire and with its rear windshield smashed out by a brick.
No injuries were reported in the vandalism, which was discovered about 12:50 a.m. in the 2900 block of Barton Avenue, Capt. Dave Martin said.
The cruiser was part of the RPD’s take home car program.
I would *love* to have gotten a photo of that.
Me too. That area is so drug infested. RPD busted a three drug houses on that block a couple years ago. But they really haven’t done anything else. All the crack heads on my block are always walking over to Barton to their fix.
We need a stonger Chief of Police. He is trying some of the things the previous police chief did but he is doing them half a**. Before you put a unmaned police car in the a drug infested area you need to bust the drug house and then put the partol car there.
The new Chief of Police has said he wasn’t intested busting “small time” drug dealers and want to focus on reducing proptery crime.
But if you really want to reduces proptery crime you will need to address the issue of the dealers.
Drug dealers aren’t stupid. They have lookouts, people watching “the stash” etc. Any police car just sitting there for hours is not a deterrent.
If Richmond wants to get agressive, they need to employ the methods of larger cities where cops can “shake down” people who look suspicious like they do in LA or Baltimore. The dealers go inside and then Vice can take the houses one by one. Set up at-risk neighborhoods as “drug zones” and bring the hammer down on tresspassing, dealing, etc. It will take some time but the message will eventually be heard and once the residents see progress they will be appreciative.
Sometimes police leave a vehicle somewhere unmanned just to scare people off by the mere presence of a police car. I think someone was sending a message.
I love my home in Battery Park, but we need a little more over here than a parked, empty police car. Somebody with RPD needs to step it up and respond to the detailed messages about drug houses that are still sitting in the inbox.
Curfew violators are keepting the police busy. Car thefts in North Richmond are up 42%. Police are having to spend time chasing curfew violators.
Well, now that the RPD is getting a $1.59 million grant, they can stop telling us that the manpower to raid these houses isn’t there!!!!
timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/sta…
Is this right by I 95? I was headed south and saw a massive fire right by 95 in Richmond and was wondering what it was on fire. It was around the same time period too. Let me know if it was! Thanks
No this is no where near 95.
For those of you who continue to find fault with our police department, I suggest you spend a night on the beat with them. The drug dealers and prostitutes on and around brookland park/north ave are extremely cunning and resourceful. Why don’t you help our officers by calling in what you see and stop being afraid to take action? If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Ralph….I do call/email information into the drug dealers. I have taken my garden hose to a prostitute that was getting busy next to my garge in the back. I have taken pictures of them too. I have taken pictures and video of drug dealers and buyers. I have sent tag# to police of the buyers, dealers and “hoppers”. I have gone to court and given community impact statement when they are doing sentencing for prostitutes.
The police have a very hard job. But I have to think something is up when send information into, such as what I listed above and the drug dealers are still here.
There are people hat complain and never even pick up the phone even when hooker is working right in front their house.
So I hope you were not directing your comment in my direction.
I live in the area Ralph has mentioned. I walked up to the front of the truck when a John was dropping off a prostitute next to my house (my alley is used frequently). I called the police with the tags and a description of both people. The John wouldn’t even look at me while I stood in front of his truck. No police showed.
I’ve given the police the local drug dealer’s info: delivery cars/tags, pickup times, associated dealing houses, supply house, names, cell phone #… AND THEY TOLD ME THE CASE WAS CLOSED.
I know the police in my area work hard, but when the orders coming from the top are telling police to deal only with open air markets and property crime, the beat police/SID’s hands are tied and they can’t investigate the source(s).
YOU PEOPLE SUCK DEAL WITH IT THE GOVERNMENT STARTED IT