Virginia Beach police report 11% drop in Part I crimes; chief seeks earlier juvenile curfew to curb pop‑up events
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Summary
Police Chief Wingate told council Part I crimes were down 11% with large reductions in burglaries and motor‑vehicle theft since 2022. To address unsanctioned oceanfront 'pop‑up' events, staff requested permission to draft an ordinance lowering the unaccompanied‑minor curfew from 11PM to 10PM; council asked staff to bring the ordinance forward.
Police Chief Wingate presented the department’s 2025 statistics and operational updates, telling council that the city recorded an 11% reduction in Part I crimes year‑over‑year and a roughly 52% drop in motor‑vehicle theft since 2022.
Wingate credited a mix of technology and tactics — fleet license‑plate readers, fixed camera installs, targeted 'hot‑spot' patrols, and focused investigative work — for many of the property‑crime declines. He said commercial burglaries and residential burglaries had fallen sharply compared with prior years and that the department’s NIBIN ballistics capacity and a new in‑city test‑fire room have reduced forensic turnaround from months to about 48 hours for most cases.
On violent crime, Wingate said aggravated assaults and other Part I violent categories are down compared with recent years, though shooting incidents were up slightly. He reported juvenile victimization and juvenile suspect counts in shootings were notably lower (juvenile victims down about 50%; juvenile suspects down about 45%). He also noted the homicide count rose after two 2024 nonfatal shooting victims later died of their injuries; the count includes two fallen officers the department will memorialize.
Turning to operational challenges, Wingate told council the department answered roughly 210,000 citizen‑initiated 911 calls last year but was operating with about 100 fewer sworn officers than authorized, stressing recruitment and retention efforts and the utility of a patrol‑aid/cadet pipeline.
On public‑safety policy, Wingate described recurring large, unpermitted oceanfront gatherings that have drawn crowds, firearms, and significant policing costs. He asked council permission to draft an ordinance to lower the unaccompanied‑minor curfew from 11PM to 10PM (with exemptions for work, school events, family emergencies, and protected First Amendment activity) and to pursue related state 'pop‑up' legislation; staff said they had already met with resort‑area stakeholders who broadly supported the change. Council gave direction for staff to bring the ordinance forward for consideration.
What happens next: Staff will draft the ordinance and return it for council consideration; police and partner agencies will continue intelligence and outreach efforts to deter unpermitted events.