Gordonville Police were involved in several Greene County Sheriff’s Office task force operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between the months of June and August — including a major operation where 49 individuals were arrested, leaving dozens of vehicles scattered along the highway in Ruckersville — according to documents obtained by Charlottesville Tomorrow through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The documents also provide evidence that Police Chief Chris Votaw likely participated in the June 23 traffic enforcement operation that has prompted an investigation by state Attorney General Jay Jones. And despite ongoing calls for transparency from residents, Votaw will not answer whether he or his officers took part in that operation.
Central Virginia residents have also raised concerns of racial profiling during that operation and have questioned how officers decided which vehicles to stop, according to reporting from Charlottesville Tomorrow, C-VILLE Weekly and others. Jones’ office said they were conducting the inquiry into allegations of violations of state law and the Constitution.
Timesheets included in the records request list nearly 50 total hours spent by Gordonsville officers on ICE assignments with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office through Sept. 17, including an assignment noted as “Operation with Greene County SO” on Aug. 3. (The records request was sent on Sept. 17 and ended at the date of the request, so any task force operations since then are not included.)…