Richmond Police report nearly 200 arrests in first month of ‘Operation Safe Summer’
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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.”
RPD has also reassessed its list of “hotspot” locations, identifying 15 areas where patterns of gun violence have emerged.
- 1400 Jennie Scher Road
- 1500 Harwood St
- 1300 Coalter St
- 1900 Mechanicsville
- 2200 N. 23rd St
- 2100 Ford Ave
- 2400 Whitcomb St
- 4000 Midlothian Tpke
- 1500 Clarkson Road
- 3400 Walmsley BIvd
- 600 Westover Hills BIvd
- 1000 St Paul St
- 00 E. Hill St
- 4900 Chamberlayne Ave
- 1200 E Brookland Park Blvd
These areas are now seeing increased patrols and law enforcement presence. The city is also working with businesses in those hotspots to enhance safety. Lamont Barnes with Richmond’s Department of Justice Services said upgrades like better lighting and surveillance cameras can make a meaningful difference.
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“These businesses will be in a position to assist RPD if something happens in that area,” Barnes said.
Another major part of the initiative includes gun safety education. RPD has distributed 558 free gun safes since that start of the program in 2023.
“We want to help people secure their firearms,” Edwards said. “That way, we can lower the number of children who are accidentally shot in our city.”
Operation Safe Summer runs through September. Chief Edwards said a final update on the full results of the program will be provided at their next crime briefing.
