Bill Text: VA HJR232 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Richmond Police Department.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 53-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-02 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ232ER) [HJR232 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HJR232-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Richmond Police Department demonstrated a high degree of vigilance, dedication to duty, and professionalism while responding to extraordinary crowds during a gun rights rally on January 20, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Police Department coordinated with other local, state, and federal agencies to monitor critical intelligence in weeks prior and implemented additional security measures for the event; and
WHEREAS, in the lead-up to the event, members of the Richmond Police Department devoted long hours and made personal sacrifices to ensure safety and security in and around Capitol Square; and
WHEREAS, the event had an estimated attendance of 22,000 people, including approximately 6,000 people inside Capitol Square, which had been designated as a gun-free area, and 16,000 people in the surrounding area, many of whom were armed; and
WHEREAS, in addition to manning security checkpoints for Capitol Square, the Richmond Police Department and other agencies maintained effective crowd control through temporary fencing and road closures and increased the law-enforcement presence in and around state office buildings to minimize disruptions for state employees; and
WHEREAS, the officers of the Richmond Police Department helped mitigate a potentially volatile situation through extensive planning and careful preparation; and
WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly and the state agencies in and around Capitol Square sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the officers of the Richmond Police Department as they fulfill their duties to serve and protect the residents of and visitors to Richmond every day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Richmond Police Department for performance above and beyond the normal call of duty on January 20, 2020; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to William C. Smith, chief of the Richmond Police Department, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the department's enduring commitment to keeping Virginians safe.
