City asks state for help on TDOs and to allow rehired retired officers; council presses for transport solutions

Ed Reed told council that one of the package priorities is state assistance to help localities manage temporary detention orders (TDOs) and mental-health crises, and that the city seeks funding and staffing so qualified non-law-enforcement professionals can perform parts of the process. Reed said the governor’s office has convened a work group studying the issue.

Councilman Bowman asked whether vendor services would be part of the solution to avoid tying up officers for long transports; Reed said vendor transport does exist but resources are scarce. Councilman Brown asked whether the package would ask that Social Security income caps be removed to allow retired officers to return to service; Reed said the request is to adopt a teachers-style rehire structure already in place for other public employees so that retired officers can return under similar rules.

The council urged staff to explore options for contracting with hospitals or private providers (Reed referenced Sentara as an example) to handle transports and hospital guarding so officers are not tied to hospital duty for extended periods. Staff and Reed agreed to research legal and budgetary mechanics and return with options.