CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Charlottesville Police Department (CPD) is undergoing an “organizational assessment” by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office.

The assessment, initiated by a request from Chief Michael Kochis, will review the department’s strategic priorities, staffing, community policing strategies, and transparency and is expected to span at least a year.

The assessment is part of Kochis’ overarching goal of building and maintaining a strong relationship with the Charlottesville community. The review will focus on areas such as crime prevention, community engagement, employee wellness, and accountability.

“We’ve made progress in reducing vacancies and gun violence, but this assessment will help us identify any blind spots we might have,” Chief Kochis said in a release.

CPD will collaborate with the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative Team and plans to implement recommendations based on the findings.

Kochis told Charlottesville Right Now that the COPS team has already made an initial trip to Charlottesville to meet with CPD’s Community Action team and local activists. Ongoing results of the assessment will be published online, and Kochis says transparency about the process and any findings is a priority.

“I think what I what I really want to show is that we’re going to be ahead of this stuff. We’re going to be out there and put things out there ahead of time and get this stuff right,” he said.

In addition to the DOJ’s assessment, CPD is also participating in a study by the Center for Policing Equity, which will examine the department’s use-of-force data in an effort to identify disparities within that data and explain why those disparities exist.

Original Release from the City of Charlottesville

CPD Requests COPs to Perform Organization Assessment

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – CPD requests the COPs (Community Oriented Policing Services) Office of the US Department of Justice to conduct an organizational assessment to evaluate its strategic priorities.

As the Charlottesville Police Department (CPD) continues to prioritize community policing and reach the goals laid out in its Strategic Plan, Chief Michael Kochis has proactively requested the COPs (Community Oriented Policing Services) Office of the US Department of Justice to conduct an organizational assessment to evaluate CPD’s strategic priorities, current staffing levels, community policing strategies, and overall transparency in its continued efforts to build community trust. The assessment evaluates the efficiencies and processes of law enforcement agencies to ensure they are effectively meeting the needs of their communities.

CPD will work with the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative Team to focus on the following areas: crime prevention and analysis, community engagement, technology, employee wellness, training and development, retention, resource analysis and strategic planning, and oversight and accountability.

Though the assessment is not required by law enforcement agencies, CPD is participating to show its commitment to the Charlottesville community and its strategic priorities. We believe that it will build trust and help strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the people who live, work, and play in the City of Charlottesville.

“Over the last year, CPD has made significant strides in reducing vacancies, building trust, and reducing gun violence. It is important that we not become comfortable. This assessment will tell us what we don’t know and where our blind spots are. We will continue to challenge ourselves as an organization and are fortunate to have those in the COPs Office working with us.”

 – Chief Michael Kochis, CPD

CPD looks forward to the findings and recommendations brought forth by this assessment, and we are committed to implementing any necessary changes to improve the effectiveness and integrity of our police department.