Judge Declares Compliance on VIPD Consent Decree Heading ‘Towards the Home Stretch’

Chief District Judge Robert Molloy took testimony from VIPD officials tasked with overseeing compliance; he also heard from court-appointed experts who track the department’s progress in meeting the decree’s demands.

By the time Wednesday’s hearing was finished, the judge said he agreed with the assessment given by independent monitor Sydney Roberts.

Roberts said that if VIPD stays consistent in its current efforts, it “could reach substantial compliance by the end of this calendar year.”

Molloy asked witnesses and attorneys for the department and the U.S. Justice Department on resolving seven outstanding compliance matters raised in the last hearing held in March. Among those matters was resolving a backlog of use-of-force cases; resolving outstanding civilian complaints; improving reporting practices and timely follow-ups; and demonstrating the ability to forecast compliance stumbling blocks.

VIPD Internal Affairs Director Vivienne Newton and Deputy Police Commissioner Jason Marsh testified about steps taken to resolve those matters since the last hearing. Marsh heads the Professional Standards Division.

The judge stated that the department’s efforts, as evidenced at the hearing, had shown significant improvement. “It represents a substantial shift from where you were this time last year,” Molloy said, “We are on the home stretch.”