Danville Police Chief Chris Yates is looking forward to getting some new special units on the street later this month. He says the police POP Unit will be returning and a Community Housing Unit is also being added. Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. is also excited about the new units….
{”We are stoked about that because we believe that is going to help us with some of our problem issues in terms of gun violence, and gang and drug activity. So we’re really excited to have that started.”}
Chief Yates says planning for the units began a year ago. He says six new officers who are completing their training will allow more veteran officers to form the new units. But Yates also notes the POP (Problem Oriented Policing) unit is not new. The city had a unit earlier that could focus on problems in specific areas. But he says what has evolved since then is allowing the most efficient and effective units to be rolled out later this month. The new units will be on the street in mid-May forming part of Chief Yates 5 year strategic plan.
In addition to the new units, Mayor Williams says some new cameras should be installed by the end of June that will also help the city fight crime.
