Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis joined WINA Morning News to commend his officers on recent efforts to curb violence in the community, highlighting arrests of individuals with dangerous weapons, including a machine gun and AK-47. Kochis emphasized the resolve of his department, saying, “If you pick up a firearm in this community and commit a crime, we’re going to hold you accountable…our officers are out there apprehending individuals just in a very tough situation.”
Dr. Brian Williams, a professor at the University of Virginia and founder of the “Public Engagement in Governance: Looking, Listening, and Learning Lab,” also joined the conversation, and echoed the commitment to community-led safety initiatives. He described his philosophy, explaining, “My lab is all about how we can be proactive in a coactive way without being reactive. So we’re focusing upstream and not downstream.” This initiative is aimed at addressing and ultimately reducing gun violence in a proactive, collaborative way…