Community and police unions clash at council as three detectives remain on indefinite leave

A wave of public comment at the Richmond City Council meeting on Feb. 24 focused on three Richmond Police Department detectives who have been on administrative leave following officer-involved shootings.

Multiple union representatives asked council and the city manager to allow the officers — identified in public comment as Detectives Hodges, Stocking and Remick — to return to duty or to provide a clear timeline for investigations. Ben Theriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association, told the council the officers are "sitting at home getting paid after murdering someone" and later urged council to "end the silence, end the stall, and end the culture of this continued unaccountable inaction." (Speaker statements are presented as made at the meeting.)

Police‑management representatives including Matt Stonebreaker and Michael Pagolin urged fairness and timely due process for the officers while acknowledging the seriousness of the incidents and the family impacts.

Other public commenters, including victims' advocates and organizers from community groups, directly accused officers of unlawful use of force in the August death of Angel Montano and demanded accountability and release of body‑camera footage. One speaker identified as Nat from Dare to Struggle said the family "has been given nothing" and pressed council for answers about the number of shots and the timeline of evidence release.

Elizabeth Bishan, a member of the Richmond Police Management Association, told the council the three detectives represent 21 percent of her bureau and that "no decision is a decision," warning that prolonged leave has operational consequences and harms morale. Bishan said the department currently has 14 detectives and three sidelined, leaving remaining staff to carry heavy caseloads.

City Attorney staff reported that items discussed in closed session included anticipated litigation and labor negotiations but "no final action was taken on any of the items" in closed session.

No formal personnel action or vote concerning the detectives was taken during the public meeting; council received extensive public comment and discussed procedural questions. Multiple speakers on both sides urged greater transparency from the city manager and the police department about investigative timelines and communications with officers and families.

Next steps: Council did not vote on personnel matters in open session; the public comments and requests for improved communication were entered on the record.