Richmond Police Chief Gerald M. Smith
As chief of police of Richmond, it is my wish that 2021 brings recovery success to a struggling economic system, a strained education system and a reimagined public safety system, all of which have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
This year presented many new and unique challenges. People experienced displacement, separation, homelessness, hopelessness, loss, child care issues, unemployment at staggering numbers and other hardships.
Here in the city of Richmond, COVID-19 contributed to an incredible increase in the number of deaths from overdoses and overdoses in general. Violent crime, such as gun violence, domestic violence and homicides, persisted.