Richmond police chief resigns after viral footage of police SUV driving into crowd
Richmond, Va., Police Chief Will Smith has resigned, Mayor Levar Stoney (D) announced Tuesday, amid controversy over the police force's handling of recent protests.
Stoney said at a Tuesday press conference that he had requested and received Smith's resignation, adding "[h]e has served this city with grace but we are ready to move it in a new direction." Major William "Jody" Blackwell, a 16-year veteran of the department, will serve as interim chief.
Stoney's announcement came after an incident Saturday night when a police SUV drove through a crowd of protesters gathered at the statue of Robert E. Lee on Monument Ave., which has become a central hub of demonstrations in the city. Weeks before, the police fired tear gas into a peaceful protest with about 20 minutes remaining before a mandatory curfew took effect.
The mayor said in a tweet earlier this week that the driver of the SUV has been placed on leave pending an investigation.
Link to tweet
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/richmond-police-chief-resigns-after-viral-footage-of-police-suv-driving-into-crowd/ar-BB15zVod?li=BBnb7Kz
