CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – Nearly a year after city Police Chief Mike Kochis had his first community forum at Trinity Church, he’s ready to fire up another one. He tells Morning News he and the CPD Community Action Team will have a town hall Thursday, February 15 at 6 o’clock at the Carver Rec Center. He says that late February meeting last year at Trinity Church, he learned of a community that was angry and felt police were not the only ones who could solve a wave of shootings and murders in the city.

Kochis says dealing with hard questions is how we make progress, and people who may not be comfortable standing up in front of people can submit questions and comments to a link found at the CPD Facebook and X sites or by clicking here.

Community Action Team member Denise Tarver says she’s learned a lot about how police operate in the city, and has been appreciative of the new chief especially in light of the fact he’s chosen to live in the community where there’s been trouble. She says she’s noticed police acting different in the community recently over past years.