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Hopewell police report violent crime up year-over-year, outline steps to engage HRHA tenants
Summary
Police reported a year-to-date increase in violent crime (32→41, +28%), described two recent homicides with arrests made, and outlined stepped-up patrols, improved camera coverage at HRHA properties, group-violence interventions, and planned CPTED work in public-housing sites.
The Hopewell Police Department reported Tuesday that violent crime is up 28% year over year, from 32 incidents to 41, while property crime is down about 22%.
Chief (presenting the June 2025 report) said two homicides — one May 3 at Thomas Roth Court and one June 4 at Piper Square — led to arrests and that neither victim was a resident of HRHA property. The department said it has been coordinating with Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) management, improving camera coverage (with Piper Square still pending some electrical repairs), and sharing trespass and problem-tenant lists to reduce repeat incidents.
The chief described several operational steps: directed patrols and foot patrols in HRHA locations, assignment of an officer to the Beacon Theatre during events, bike patrols downtown, and use of speed-monitoring devices. The department also noted a community-engagement officer’s work on anti-auto-theft programs, neighborhood-watch promotion and a joint walk with a violence-intervention group in Piper Square.
Staffing remains a challenge: the department reported 11 sworn vacancies and one emergency-communications vacancy; three recruits are scheduled for the academy on July 7. The chief said recruitment is ongoing and that the department plans to bring monthly crime-status reports to council.
Council members requested a joint meeting with HRHA leadership to review coordinated responses and promised staff follow-up; the city manager and police chief said they will schedule that meeting.
What’s next: the police chief will bring monthly updates and coordinate a joint session with HRHA management and council.
