I have completed my review of the January 25th arrest of London Colvin.
The K9 officer, as well as three additional officers, are no longer with the Norfolk Police Department. In addition, I have suspended another officer for several days.
Their actions do not represent the values of my department. We have a great police department filled with men and women who work hard in this community every day. We must hold ourselves to high standards and embrace opportunities to strengthen our relationship with the people we serve.
Some of my K9 policy revisions include: restricting the use of a K9 in assaults which involve an officer or a citizen, and dispatching a supervising officer to the scene anytime a K9 is used to apprehend a suspect.
As I stated early on in my review of Ms. Colvin’s arrest, I am committed to providing this department with the best training, best practices and ensuring the men and women who serve the community are the best people for the job.
-Chief Michael Goldsmith