WHAT:         Richmond Police Department Command Staff Community Walk

WHEN:         5 p.m., TODAY, May 20

WHERE:      The meeting location will be 1100 E. Brookland Park Boulevard

Richmond Police Department command staff and Fourth Precinct officers will walk in Sector 411 with collaborating public safety partners to interact with residents and business owners and offer crime prevention tips. Sector 411 Lieutenant Brian Sheridan and participants will engage residents to better understand their needs and hear their concerns and suggestions for improvements in public safety. 

BACKGROUND:    

This walk is part of a series as the RPD Command Staff walks and talks with residents and business owners throughout the various city precincts, which has been a longstanding tradition of the department. The RPD is committed to cultivating opportunities for open dialogue and building relationships with citizens that extend beyond the response to emergencies.  

On May 20, 2026, the Trust for Public Land has named Richmond’s park system among the top 25 in the nation in its 2026 ParkScore Index, ranking the city No. 24 among park systems serving America’s 100 most populous cities.

The annual report evaluates park systems based on access, investment, amenities, acreage, and equity. In the 2026 ParkScore Index, Richmond earned a score of 65.2 out of 100 across five categories and 15 performance measures. While Richmond moved from No. 16 in 2025 to No. 24 in 2026, the city’s overall score increased by 34 points compared with its 2018 rating.

Richmond’s continued top 25 ranking reflects several key factors, including:

• Increased investment in parks and recreation. The ParkScore Index measures aggregate parks and recreation spending, including volunteer contributions averaged over three years. Richmond’s per-capita investment increased from $186 in the 2025 report to $194 in 2026.
• Expanded park access. More residents now live within a half-mile walk of a park.
• Growth in park acreage and median park size.

“Our city parks are vibrant green spaces and gathering places that reflect the spirit and future of Richmond,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “This recognition speaks to the dedication of city staff, community partners, and residents who work together to create parks that foster connection, wellness, and opportunity. Every improvement we make helps ensure our parks remain welcoming spaces where all Richmonders can thrive.”

Richmond saw its largest increase in the Access category, earning a score of 77 out of 100, a three-point increase from 2024. With new community centers now open at Lucks Field, T.B. Smith, and Southside, along with the additions of Mayo Island and Midtown Green, 83% of Richmond residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a publicly accessible park. In the Equity category, the city saw a 20-point decrease from the 2025 score to 67 out of 100. While last year's once-in-a-lifetime addition of Mayo Island and Midtown Green to the City’s park system added 28.8 acres[JO1] [HD2] [JO3] [HD4]  of greenspace that are accessible to all residents living, working, or visiting downtown, due to Park Score’s methodology, these additions impacted the Equity aspect of the ParkScore. Within the individual criteria of the Equity category, the department did see an increase with 82% of residents of color and 85% of low-income residents that live within a 10-minute walk of a park, representing increases of 3% and 1%, respectively, from the previous year’s report.

“Richmond’s continued recognition as a top park system reflects years of investment, collaboration, and community commitment,” said Chris Frelke, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “From expanding access to opening new community centers, we are focused on creating high-quality parks and recreation experiences in every neighborhood. This achievement would not be possible without the support of City leadership, our partners, residents, and the dedicated PRCF team who bring these spaces to life every day.”

As the department prepares for the next Park Score Index submission this fall, the City is also advancing Richmond INSPIRE (Imagining Neighborhood-Shaping Parks and Inclusive Recreation Experiences), Richmond’s first comprehensive parks and recreation planning initiative in decades. Richmond INSPIRE will help guide future investments in park access, amenities, connectivity, equity, and recreational opportunities citywide, which are all key factors measured in the ParkScore Index. Through community-driven planning and long-term investment strategies, the initiative will support the city’s continued progress toward building a more accessible, equitable, and high-quality park system for all residents. The city is also improving coordination across park maintenance, capital projects, land planning, and greenspace development to support future park expansion and investment.

The full 2026 ParkScore Index is available on the Trust for Public Land website. More information about Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is available on the department website and social media channels.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Location: Richmond Office of Elections – 2134 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227

The Richmond Office of Elections building cooling system has been restored, and the office will reopen during regular business hours today.

We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding during this temporary disruption. If you need assistance, please contact our office at (804) 646-5950 or email vote@rva.gov.

New initiatives include further restrictions on Flock data sharing  

Richmond, VA — Today Mayor Danny Avula announced a set of actions the City of Richmond is taking to safeguard community trust and draw a clear line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement. These actions, recommended by the Mayor’s Inclusive Communities Preparedness Work Group, formalize and expand upon the administration’s longstanding position that the Richmond Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law and does not coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

“The fear our neighbors are feeling right now is real — the fear of going to work, taking children to school, or even running everyday errands like going to the grocery store,” said  Mayor Danny Avula . “Our city government exists to serve all Richmonders, and we will continue to work to build the trust that is essential to keeping our communities safe.”

The actions include: 

Increased Flock data sharing restrictions. In addition to cutting off all federal agency access to its license-plate reader data, the Richmond Police Department will now prohibit sharing Flock Safety data with any jurisdiction in Virginia that has entered into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. This helps ensure that technology deployed to solve local crimes in Richmond is not used as a tool for immigration enforcement in other localities across the Commonwealth. 

RPD uniform updates. The Richmond Police Department will update officer uniforms to read “RICHMOND POLICE”, making them clearly and visually distinguishable from federal law enforcement agents. Reports from across the region have described ICE agents conducting enforcement operations in dark tactical gear that closely resembles local police, creating confusion and fear in communities. The uniform changes will help residents immediately identify RPD officers from their local police department.   

Prohibiting ICE from staging operations on City property. The City will prohibit federal agencies from using City-owned property — including buildings, parking lots, and public facilities — to stage immigration operations, process detainees, or conduct surveillance related to immigration enforcement. 

Raising concerns directly to ICE. The administration will establish a regular cadence of meetings with ICE’s Richmond field office to raise concerns from residents, communicate the City’s policies and expectations, and ensure open channels of communication. This proactive approach allows the City to advocate directly for the safety and dignity of Richmond residents while still upholding its commitments to resident safety. 

“The Richmond Police Department’s mission is community policing — building trust, strengthening relationships, solving crimes, and keeping neighborhoods safe,” said Chief Rick Edwards . “We understand that some residents may feel uncertainty or concern when they see law enforcement activity in their neighborhoods. That is why it is important that the public can clearly identify our officers and know who we are when we respond to serve the community. We want every resident to feel safe calling us for help, reporting crime, or speaking with an officer. Our focus is, and always will be, protecting the people of Richmond and working in partnership with the communities we serve.” 

Richmond has not entered into a 287(g) agreement with ICE and does not participate in the enforcement of federal immigration law. In January 2026, Mayor Avula established the Inclusive Communities Preparedness Work Group to identify additional steps the City can take to respond to emergent threats and challenges facing immigrant communities. 

The Richmond Police Department’s Hispanic Liaison can be reached at 804-646-5158 or jasmine.perez@rva.gov . 

La Ciudad de Richmond actúa para conservar la confianza de la comunidad y aclarar el papel de su Departamento de Policía

Las nuevas iniciativas incluyen mayores restricciones en el intercambio de datos de las cámaras Flock

Richmond, Virginia — El alcalde Danny Avula anunció hoy un conjunto de medidas que la Ciudad de Richmond está tomando para conservar la confianza de la comunidad y trazar una división clara entre las autoridades policiales locales y las agencias federales de inmigración. Estas acciones, que fueron recomendadas por el Equipo de Trabajo de Preparación de Comunidades Incluyentes del alcalde, formalizan y expanden la posición establecida por la administración desde hace tiempo de que el Departamento de Policía de Richmond (RPD) no lleva a cabo ningún tipo de acción relacionada con las leyes federales de inmigración, ni tampoco se coordina con la Autoridad de Aduanas e Inmigración (ICE) de los Estados Unidos.

Dijo el alcalde Danny Avula : “El miedo que ahora tienen nuestros vecinos es real: el miedo de salir a trabajar, de llevar a sus hijos a la escuela, inclusive de realizar actividades diarias y rutinarias como ir a la tienda a hacer mercado”, y añadió: “El gobierno de nuestra ciudad está aquí para servirle a todos los richmondeses y seguiremos trabajando para establecer la confianza que es indispensable para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades”.

Las medidas incluyen:

Un aumento en las restricciones de intercambio de datos de Flock. Además de cortar por completo el acceso de las agencias federales a sus datos de los lectores de placas, el Departamento de Policía de Richmond ahora prohibirá compartir los datos del sistema de seguridad Flock con cualquier jurisdicción de Virginia que haya entrado a un acuerdo 287(g) con ICE. Esto ayuda a asegurar que la tecnología que desplegamos para resolver delitos locales en Richmond no sea utilizada como una herramienta de vigilancia de inmigración en otras localidades de la Mancomunidad.

Actualizar los uniformes del RPD. El Departamento de Policía de Richmond cambiará sus uniformes de manera que ahora tengan escrito “RICHMOND POLICE” (“Policía de Richmond”), para hacerlos visualmente diferentes de los utilizados por los agentes de las autoridades federales de inmigración. Existen informes de toda la región que han descrito el vestuario de los agentes de ICE que realizan redadas como “equipo táctico de colores oscuros”, muy parecidos a los de la policía local, lo que crea confusión y temor en las comunidades. Estos cambios en el uniforme ayudarán a la población a identificar inmediatamente a los agentes de policía de Richmond.

Prohibir que ICE se reúna para preparar sus operaciones en instalaciones municipales. La Ciudad prohibirá que las agencias federales utilicen propiedades municipales, incluyendo edificios, estacionamientos e instalaciones públicas, para montar sus operaciones de inmigración, procesar a los detenidos o ejercer actividades de vigilancia relacionadas con las redadas de inmigración.

Presentar sus inquietudes directamente a ICE. La administración establecerá una secuencia regular de reuniones con la oficina de campo de ICE en Richmond, con el fin de plantear las inquietudes de los richmondeses, comunicar las políticas y expectativas de la Ciudad y asegurar que existan canales abiertos de comunicación. Este enfoque proactivo permite que la administración municipal abogue directamente por la seguridad y dignidad de los habitantes de Richmond, al tiempo que mantiene su compromiso con la seguridad de la población.

Dijo el jefe de policía Rick Edwards : “La misión del Departamento de Policía de Richmond es proteger a la comunidad, estableciendo confianza, fortaleciendo relaciones, resolviendo delitos y manteniendo las comunidades seguras”, y agregó: “Comprendemos que algunos richmondeses sientan incertidumbre o preocupación cuando ven actividades policiales en sus vecindarios; es por eso que es importante que el público pueda identificar claramente a nuestros agentes y oficiales y sepa quiénes somos cuando respondemos y le servimos a la comunidad. Queremos que cada persona se sienta segura cuando nos llame pidiendo ayuda, informando sobre un delito o al hablar con un agente. Nuestra meta es, y siempre será, proteger a la población de Richmond y trabajar en colaboración con las comunidades a las que servimos”.

Richmond firmado ningún acuerdo 287(g) con ICE, ni participa en la ejecución de las leyes federales de inmigración. En enero de 2026, el alcalde Avula creó el Equipo de Trabajo de Preparación de Comunidades Incluyentes para identificar otras medidas que puede tomar la Ciudad para responder a las nuevas amenazas y desafíos a los que se enfrentan las comunidades inmigrantes.

También pueden comunicarse con la oficina de Enlace Hispano del Departamento de Policía de Richmond llamando al 804-646-5158 o escribiendo al correo jasmine.perez@rva.gov .