Time Is Right For 'Serious Reform' Of Police Departments: Northam

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam met with police chiefs from across the state Tuesday and plans to meet with activists and other stakeholders in the future to discuss what types of police reforms are needed to address police brutality, especially in communities of color. At a news conference in Richmond, the governor also announced three new appointments to the Virginia State Crime Commission.

With public anxiety still rising about police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, governors and mayor are developing ways to address the issue. In his meeting with the members of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, Northam told them that "we all share the goal of rebuilding trust within our communities."

"This is an opportunity for serious reform, and we have to be serious about how we do it," Northam said. "This includes listening and learning from wise and thoughtful people."

Northam and the police chiefs had "a very frank discussion about the pain that so many Americans are feeling right now and the protests over policing in communities of color," the governor said. "We also talked about what steps need to be taken to ensure that we can move forward on policies that protect our communities and improve the way we handle other social issues such as response to people in mental health crisis," he noted.

The police chiefs association shared its recommendations that included expanding the standards that would prohibit someone from serving as a Virginia police officer. The association also informed Northam that adopting policies to address the need for mental health reforms and providing access to services “has the highest likelihood of reducing police use of force.”

The meeting with the police chiefs came four days after a Fairfax County police officer was caught on a body-worn camera video using a Taser on a man who was in obvious distress but was not showing any aggressive behavior to police officers.

After the incident, Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler Jr. called for criminal and administrative investigations. The officer who used the Taser was identified as Tyler Timberlake, an eight-year veteran of the department assigned to the Mount Vernon District police station. He was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and battery.

On Monday, Northam addressed the incident on Twitter, stating: "Another unarmed black man, clearly in distress, was wrongly attacked this weekend by a Fairfax County police officer."

"The officer has been charged with assault," the governor tweeted. "This inhumane behavior happens too often — and usually without accountability or justice for those harmed."

At Tuesday's news conference, Northam announced that he has appointed Norfolk Police Chief Larry Boone, Larry Terry, executive director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, and anti-gun violence activist Lori Haas to the State Crime Commission.

Created by the state legislature, the 13-member State Crime Commission makes recommendations on all areas of public safety and protection.

"He is a reformer," Northam said in reference to Boone. "We saw that as he marched with demonstrators and carried a Black Lives Matter sign. ... As a black police chief serving a city with a 43 percent black population, he will bring personal and professional experience that will provide an important perspective to the crime commission's work."

Terry has experience working with former prisoners, through education and counseling, as they move back into communities, Northam said. Haas, senior director of advocacy at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, is the mother of a daughter who was injured in the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007.

During the news conference, Northam said he expects the General Assembly, when it comes back in special session in August, will examine the issue of police brutality. "There is ongoing discussion with legislators as to how we can turn our listening and learning into policy," the governor said.

Legislation related to police reforms that does not get addressed in August will probably get a hearing in January when the General Assembly reconvenes, Northam added.

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