public safety | FFXnow

Future of Herndon Police training unclear after clash with county

Published June 6, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated June 6, 2024 at 4:23PM

Herndon Police Department station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It remains unclear how the Herndon Police Department (HPD) will obtain and train new officers after the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy cut off the department over a disagreement with Police Chief Maggie DeBoard.

Fairfax Deputy County Executive for Safety and Security Thomas Arnold told HPD on March 18 that the criminal justice academy would terminate its affiliation with the town’s department, effective June 1, after DeBoard reportedly complained about the academy’s director, Major Wilson Lee, signing his name in Chinese on graduation certificates.

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Fairfax County to clear Reston homeless encampment, open temporary shelter

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 28, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated March 28, 2024 at 5:03PM

An encampment has taken shape in recent years near the Sunrise Assisted Living in Reston (staff photo by Fatimah Waseem)

A tent encampment housing between 20 and 35 individuals in the woods between Inova’s emergency room and Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Reston may soon fold.

Fairfax County officials hope to open up a temporary overflow shelter in a government building in the Reston Town Center North area to accommodate the people who’ve been living in the tents.

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FCPS poised to fund new security tech and summer school programs

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 20, 2024 at 11:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Settlement money from vape-maker Juul will help Fairfax County Public Schools bolster security at some high schools.

The Fairfax County School Board is set to vote tomorrow (Thursday) on adjustments to the school system’s fiscal year 2024 budget, including allocations of the $3.2 million it received from Juul after settling a class-action lawsuit over the company’s flavored e-cigarettes last year.

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FCPD removes crossing guards for Herndon, Fort Belvoir and potentially Vienna schools

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 20, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated March 25, 2024 at 4:22PM

A crossing for Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:20 p.m. on 3/25/2024) Schools in Vienna, Herndon and Fort Belvoir have or are at risk of losing their crossing guards due to budget constraints facing the Fairfax County Police Department.

The Vienna Town Council and Mayor Linda Colbert were informed at a recent work session that the county will no longer provide crossing guards for any schools in the town’s limits because of a lack of funding, Councilmember Howard Springsteen shared at the council’s meeting on Monday (March 18).

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Fairfax County police to use AI technology to evaluate body camera footage

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 13, 2024 at 3:30PM

The police department is working with a company to automatically review body-worn camera footage

The Fairfax County Police Department will utilize automated technology to analyze body-worn camera footage in real time.

Seeking to improve its training and interactions with the public, the FCPD is the first jurisdiction in Virginia to sign on with Truleo, the Chicago-based technology company announced yesterday (Tuesday).

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McLean fire department expands capacity by adding a third ambulance

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 29, 2024 at 1:30PM

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department has added a third ambulance, on the right, to its vehicle fleet (courtesy MVFD)

For the first time since it was established in 1921, the McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) has expanded its vehicle fleet to three ambulances.

The newest ambulance began operating out of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Station 1 (1455 Laughlin Avenue) on Feb. 21, but it will get an official, public reveal this Saturday (March 2) at the annual “I Love McLean” celebration.

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JUST IN: Luther Jackson MS Valentine’s Day dance on hold after shooting threats

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 14, 2024 at 1:00PM | Updated February 14, 2024 at 1:22PM

Luther Jackson Middle School entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Luther Jackson Middle School students will have to wait for their first dance of the year.

The Valentine’s Day dance scheduled for this afternoon (Wednesday) has been postponed after threats of gun violence at the Merrifield school (3020 Gallows Road) were discovered earlier this week.

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Police union objects to proposed merger of county’s animal shelter and police services

By Acacia James

Published February 12, 2024 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Animal Protection Police officers in February 2024 attended the release of a bald eagle they found injured in Fairfax Station (via FCPD)

A plan to consolidate the duties of Fairfax County’s Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) and Animal Protection Police (APP) is drawing some pushback from the local police union.

Last month, county staff proposed to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that DAS take charge of both animal care services and enforcement of animal protection laws, which would be carried out by animal control officers (ACOs). The recommendation came from both DAS and Fairfax County Police Department leaders.

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Fairfax County proposes consolidating animal shelter and police services

By Acacia James

Published February 1, 2024 at 11:00AM

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Fairfax County wants to consolidate the duties of its Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) and Animal Protection Police (APP).

Under the new arrangement, DAS would oversee both animal care services and enforcement of animal protection laws, which would be carried out by animal control officers (ACO), according to the recommendation from DAS and the Fairfax County Police Department.

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Va. Senate passes bill creating $500 fine for leaving handguns visible in vehicles

By Graham Moomaw / Virginia Mercury

Published January 29, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated January 31, 2024 at 12:08PM

A handgun with bullets (via Tom Def on Unsplash)

In an attempt to stem what Democratic lawmakers say is an epidemic of guns being stolen from vehicles, the Virginia Senate passed legislation Thursday that would create a $500 civil penalty for firearm owners who leave handguns on a car seat or other areas visible to passersby.

The legislation, one of the first gun control measures put to a full vote in either chamber this year, still needs to pass the House of Delegates and is likely at risk of being vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin after the session ends. Still, the issue highlights the two parties’ diverging views on how to address gun crime, with Democrats trying to reduce the number of guns flowing onto the streets and Republicans calling for tougher enforcement of existing laws.