”We all deserve safe spaces. We all deserve a world of trust, a world where we all belong. The Richmond Police Department is committed to those goals,” said Captain Kimberly Mooney, “and I am thrilled, as the new LGBTQ+ liaison, to be able to work with the community to help us all achieve them.”

The Richmond Police Department has named Captain Mooney as the Department’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison. The mission of RPD’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison is to facilitate conversations and strengthen relationships with the community as well as increasing awareness, training and knowledge of inclusiveness within the department.

“Richmond is a diverse city and it’s important we’re proactive to ensure we hear from all voices within the community we serve,” said Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards. “Captain Mooney has been a valued leader within our department for more than 18 years and as our LGBTQ+ liaison I’m confident she will foster those partnerships that are vitally important to our mission at RPD.”

Mooney has a history of advocating for LGBTQ+ through various community forums and has worked collaboratively with members of Diversity Richmond. She leads the LGBTQ+ Awareness course for all RPD sworn officers and recruits, facilitating conversations to ensure officers are allies and are able to create a safe space for others to approach any police officer within the department.

Mooney is active with Out to Protect, Inc., a non-profit organization that develops education curriculum and training for law enforcement about LGBTQ+ issues and hate crimes.

As community liaison, Mooney’s first priority is to grow RPD’s LGBTQ+ liaison group within the department and to increase visibility and availability as a resource within the community. “I’m excited to strengthen relationships within the community and to elevate the voices of our LGBTQ+ citizens,” said Mooney. “We want the community to feel comfortable coming to members of the department. Together we can achieve the vitality that comes with trust, safety, and an inclusive world for all of us.”

For outreach and to schedule a meeting with Captain Mooney, she can be reached at (804) 646-6029 or [email protected].

Six hundred high school students from the Richmond area will gather at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday, March 18, 2023, for Teen Summit RVA – the first in a series of annual meetings designed to engage and connect regional teens.

Teen Summit RVA 2023 will link high school students as they speak out against violence and seek solutions to daily challenges they face. Henrico County, the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County began collaborating on Teen Summit RVA in fall 2022.

The event will include panel discussions and interactions related to issues and concerns that students face daily – gun violence, drug use, mental health and equity in their school division and community. This diverse group of 14-to-18-year-olds also will be able to attend the [email protected] Regional Summer Opportunity Fair, which is presented by Virginia Career Works. Students will explore exhibits and learn about job, internship and volunteer opportunities as well as career and educational resources available to them.

Students have been selected by their schools to participate in Teen Summit RVA. While attendance is by invitation only, limited slots remain open. Any student from the participating school systems who would like to attend should contact their school’s guidance counselor.

“When students come together, their passion, creativity and hope for the future are greater than any challenge,” said Dr. Amy Cashwell, Superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools. “Teen Summit RVA is a tremendous step in bringing together students from across the region to make connections and spark solutions that cut across county and city borders. This is the start of something important for central Virginia.”

“Teen Summit RVA is a great opportunity for students to build their leadership skills and advocate for issues that impact their peers and our community. By listening to and building up our youth, we know we will see them lead us forward,” said Jason Kamras, Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools.

Students also will be able to express themselves by contributing to an art installation and recording their spontaneous responses to thought-provoking statements in an audio booth.

Other Teen Summit RVA experiences will cover Mental Health Matters, Changing the World and Keeping Schools Safe: An Open Discussion About School Safety.

Teen Summit RVA will be hosted by nationally known, Richmond-based comedian Micah “Bam Bamm” White and is sponsored by the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond.

“This innovative summit for central Virginia teens offers opportunities for them to connect with each other, hear from experts and speak up about issues important to them,” said Dr. Mervin B. Daugherty, Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools.

“We are so very excited for the youth of the region that this event is being held,” said Dr. Joe Casey, Chesterfield County Administrator. “So often with young people, groups and organizations talk around them and not to them. This entire event is centered on the idea of listening to students and hearing what matters most to them. It’s imperative that we understand the needs of all residents, including young people. We can’t wait to see what comes out of this event and those like it in the future.”

Media outlets are welcome to provide news coverage of Teen Summit RVA. For more information, contact Ron Carrington at (804) 690-3972 or [email protected]. Student participants will be available for interviews upon request.

More information can be found at teensummitrva.com.

Detectives with the Richmond Police Department are conducting a wide-ranging investigation into reports of possible fraud by a towing company that could have resulted in unauthorized towing and/or the overcharging of fees.

Following reports of a tow company towing vehicles from unauthorized areas and reports of the company overcharging individuals, Third Precinct detectives have been investigating the business for the past three months. Detectives have not yet released the name of the company due to the ongoing investigation, but efforts have been made and will continue to be made to contact possible victims of the fraud by mail.

Following a warrant that was served for the company and business records, detectives have identified the names and addresses of potential victims. These individuals have been sent a letter alerting them to the possible fraud and providing instructions for contacting RPD.

Detectives do not have complete information on all the possible victims. Anyone in the Richmond region who believes they may have been the victim of illegal practices by a towing company based in Richmond is asked to email [email protected] with any details that can be provided.

Illegal practices can be:

• Towing from unauthorized areas;
• Having been charged in excess of the maximum $135 for the initial tow;
• Having been charged in excess of the drop fee of $40 when the vehicle has been hooked but not yet towed away, and;
• Storage fees that accrued due to an illegal tow.

“This has been a challenging investigation,” said Third Precinct Commander Faith Flippo. “This case could involve hundreds of victims. I credit the steadfast and focused work by Third Precinct detectives in advancing this case in an effort to protect the public.”