Council affirms SEIU placement for Community Intervention Specialists, rejects RPOA appeal

The Richmond City Council voted to reject an appeal by the Richmond Police Officers Association and affirmed the human resources director’s determination that the new Community Intervention Specialist classification belongs in the city’s SEIU Local 1021 general employees bargaining unit.

The decision preserves the city’s plan to staff the Community Crisis Response Program (branded in the meeting as ROC) with non‑sworn, social‑service‑oriented employees rather than placing the positions inside the police union. Council members voted to reject the appeal; the measure passed with one recorded abstention (Council Member Baana) and one member absent for the meeting.

City human resources director Sharron Taylor, who served as the employee relations officer in the case, told the council that assigning the new position to SEIU best serves two legal and policy aims: efficient and effective public service, and giving employees representation aligned to their community of interest. “In conclusion, the factors and considerations are overwhelmingly and unanimously favor assigning the community intervention specialist to SEIU,” Taylor said.

Taylor outlined the legal and organizational reasoning she used in reaching…