RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond Police Department (RPD) is reporting early success in its effort to reduce gun violence this summer. During RPD’s mid-year crime briefing on Thursday, July 10, Chief Rick Edwards shared updated crime statistics for the city, including the current status of “Operation Safe Summer.”
The seasonal initiative launched on May 31 to help curb crime during a time when violence tends to spike. In just over a month, Richmond Police have reported:
- 97 felony arrests
- 70 misdemeanor arrests
- 105 firearms seized
- 105 warrants served
- 112 traffic summons issued
Police have also confiscated large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and marijuana during the operation. The initiative is supported by multiple law enforcement partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Virginia State Police.
“State Police is, by number, the biggest partner we have,” Edwards added. “They’re working search warrants with us, riding in cars with us. It’s a very close partnership.”…