Newport News police earn state recertification; youth advisory board highlights growing partnership

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services recertified the Newport News Police Department as a Certified Crime Prevention Community, city council heard during its Feb. 25 regular session.

The designation recognizes local community safety efforts; DCJS representatives told the council that Newport News met program requirements including 19 community-safety elements and work from neighborhood coalitions. "This is an accomplishment that the police department in your community should be very proud of," DCJS presenter Tina Sumter said.

The certification program dates to a commission charge in the late 1990s and includes a review of core and optional safety elements, DCJS officials said. "There are 400 criminal justice agencies in the Commonwealth Of Virginia. There are 12 that have achieved certified crime prevention community status," Harvey Powers, law enforcement division director at DCJS, told the council.

Why it matters: Recertification signals that local policing and community groups have met a suite of practices DCJS counts as evidence of sustained community-safety work. City officials and DCJS also said certification can improve eligibility for some state grants.

What council heard: DCJS staff described the certification standards and highlighted the Newport News Neighborhood Watch Coalition as a local organizing structure that helped the city meet the requirements. The recertification was approved by the DCJS board on Dec. 5, 2024, the presenters told council.

Council also heard from members of the Young Adult Police Commission, a youth advisory board run in partnership with Newport News Public Schools and the Newport News Police Department. Massimiliano Arellano, identified as a YPC co-president, told council the program was created by the police chief in 2018 "to build a better relationship between the Newport News Police Department and the youth in the city of Newport News." He said this year's enrollment nearly doubled.

Student commissioners described program activities and what they gain from the meetings. "Our motto is bringing youth to the conversation," Arellano said. Tyler McNally, a Denbigh High School junior and YPC member, said the group has used distracted-driver curriculum and fatal-vision goggles to learn about driving risks: "The young adult police commission helps us build relationships with police officers," he said. Samaya Tate, identified as a YPC co-vice president, said she had "witnessed firsthand their dedication and compassion and unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our community."

Council context and next steps: The presentation was informational. Council did not take formal action during the meeting on the certification; DCJS presenters invited questions and photos with the police chief following the report.

Details and sources: DCJS presenters said the city's application documented meeting 19 elements (12 core and a minimum of nine optional elements), and that the city was one of 12 certified communities statewide. Recertification was approved by the DCJS board on Dec. 5, 2024, and the presentation materials emphasized continued neighborhood watch activity and youth engagement as central to the application.