NEW: Richmond Police have spent nearly $2 million on overtime and equipment responding to the #RVAprotests as of July 3. @BPaves and I filed Freedom of Information Act requests to all of the police agencies that've been at protests. Here's what we found: vpm.org/news/articles/…
The break down of the nearly $2m spent by RPD:
- $1.6 million on overtime as of July 3
- $208,462 in equipment and supplies for protests
- Undetermined amount on aerial surveillance
The overtime cost is almost half of the ~$4m Richmond Police budgeted for overtime pay in FY2020
- $1.6 million on overtime as of July 3
- $208,462 in equipment and supplies for protests
- Undetermined amount on aerial surveillance
The overtime cost is almost half of the ~$4m Richmond Police budgeted for overtime pay in FY2020
Important to note that most of costs to RPD is on the FY2020 rolls (ending July 1, 2020). That means there is potential for a budget overrun. Money would need to found elsewhere in the budget or, as a last resort, the rainy day fund. #RVACouncil ultimately votes on that.
In Henrico, police provided "mutual aid" during 5 protests between May 29 & June 14. Anywhere from 26-61 officers responded. Total cost: $69K. Per @HenricoCitizen, Henrico doesn't plan to help in any more protests bc "there's just not a uniform approach." henricocitizen.com/articles/henri…
Richmond, Chesterfield & Henrico equally share cost of Metro Aviation Unit used for aerial surveillance. We're working on FOIA'ing C-field and Richmond, but Henrico spent roughly $3,000 on fuel and pilots for the Cessna plane. Other two localities should be more or less the same.
Virginia State Police, which has been used heavily under @GovernorVA's emergency declaration, didn't provide any cost info on protests. They say they haven't pulled out cost b/c the protests are still ongoing. Chesterfield likewise didn't provide cost info to CPD "mutual aid"
It's important here to say that @GovernorVA's emergency declaration, renewed on June 29, provides up to $350,000 for “for state and local government mission assignments and state response and recovery operations" including $250,000 for the Department of Military Affairs.
.@VDEM manages that money under the emergency declaration. They told us they haven't received any invoices from regional law enforcement agencies who typically submit expenses for reimbursement 90 days after the end of an event.
Jim Nolan, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney's spox, said that costs aren't just for quashing protests (tear gas, pepper spray, etc.), but also for police blocking roads & facilitating protests, and COVID-19 response. Here's his full statement: 
Sorry this should read *roughly $4,000*
- About $1,000 on fuel
- Roughly $2,900 on pilot pay
- About $1,000 on fuel
- Roughly $2,900 on pilot pay
