Score: +7 (9/7/2)

Contra Costa County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Staffing Challenges Facing the Richmond Police Department: Diminishing Funds and Fewer Officers

Published: April 29, 2025 10 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 16 findings

Despite a decrease in absolute number of homicides from 18 to 11, violent crimes in Richmond, which include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault have increased from 2021-2024.

No recommendations for this finding

In 2021, the City of Richmond reallocated $3 million in Richmond Police Department (RPD) funding to community services and alternative policing proposals in Richmond.

No recommendations for this finding

The City received two expert reports that studied staffing levels in Richmond, the Matrix report (March 2023) and the Raftelis report (May 2024).

No recommendations for this finding

Both the Matrix and Raftelis reports found that there should be an increase in RPD sworn officers.

No recommendations for this finding

The City Council has not taken any action on police staffing as recommended in the Matrix and Raftelis reports.

Related Recommendations (3)

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider placing a review of the Matrix and Raftelis reports on a City Council agenda.

By January 1, 2026, after a City Council meeting review of the reports, the City Council should consider following the recommendations for police officer staffing and hiring made in the Matrix and Raftelis reports.

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider whether to allocate some of the Chevron Corporation settlement funds to the RPD to hire and retain more officers.

An improvement in recruiting measures has resulted in an increase of hiring of new RPD officers, although staffing remains below approved levels.

No recommendations for this finding

The RPD has the ability to train only 10 new officers at a time, using the available Field Training Officers, resulting in a limitation on the number of officers that could be hired.

Related Recommendations (1)

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to work with the RPD to develop a plan to increase the number of Field Training Officers.

Reallocation of RPD funds resulted in the downsizing or elimination of specialized investigative units.

No recommendations for this finding

Since the reallocation of RPD funds, mandatory overtime for police officers has increased.

Related Recommendations (1)

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to work with the RPD to establish a plan to reduce officer mandatory overtime.

F10

Subsequent to the reallocation of RPD funds in 2021 the City Council approved the formation of the Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP).

No recommendations for this finding

F11

The CCRP was formed to respond to calls involving mental health and quality of life incidents not requiring the RPD.

No recommendations for this finding

F12

As of April 2025, the CCRP is staffed with three people, a program manager and two staffers.

No recommendations for this finding

F13

As of April 2025, the CCRP is not receiving calls for service via police dispatch.

Related Recommendations (1)

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to work with the RPD to establish a training program for dispatchers to enable dispatchers to properly send appropriate personnel to incidents for CCRP and RPD.

F14

The need for agreement between the City and RPOA on duties to be performed and union representation of the CCRP is contributing to CCRP’s slow rollout.

Related Recommendations (1)

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to establish a timeline to implement the operations and functions of the CCRP.

F15

As a result of a legal settlement between the City and Chevron Corporation, $550 million will be coming to the City of Richmond over the next 10 years, starting in June 2025, resulting in increased revenue for the City.

No recommendations for this finding

F16

As of April 2025, The City Council has not determined how any of the Chevron settlement funds will be used.

No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of Richmond

July 18, 2025 • 8 pages • 18 responses • Score: +7 (+9, 7, -2) View Details ▾

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18 responses to findings and recommendations

Despite a decrease in absolute number of homicides from 18 to 11, violent crimes in Richmond, which include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault have increased from 2021-2024.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

In 2021, the City of Richmond reallocated $3 million in Richmond Police Department (RPD) funding to community services and alternative policing proposals in Richmond.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The City faces fiscal uncertainty, including but not limited to potential federal funding cuts due to its status as a Sanctuary City.

The City received two expert reports that studied staffing levels in Richmond, the Matrix report (March 2023) and the Raftelis report (May 2024).

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to establish a timeline to implement the operations and functions of the CCRP.

Response: Implemented

Due: January 1, 2026 Scheduled: CCRP expected to be operational within the first quarter of 2026. Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The recommendation has been implemented. The City has continued the rollout process of CCRP. The Community Intervention Specialist (CIS) recruitment is in process.

Both the Matrix and Raftelis reports found that there should be an increase in RPD sworn officers.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with this finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with this finding.

Response: Will Implement

Due: January 1, 2026 Scheduled: Planning for dispatcher training is underway. Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented. Planning for the training of the dispatchers is underway.

The City Council has not taken any action on police staffing as recommended in the Matrix and Raftelis reports.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

Richmond City Council Response: The City disagrees with this finding. The City implemented a comprehensive virtual marketing campaign for Public Safety positions, which included social media outreach. The campaign was successful and resulted in over 40 hires in 2022 and 2023, and reduced the number of vacancies to 24 as of May 31, 2025.

An improvement in recruiting measures has resulted in an increase of hiring of new RPD officers, although staffing remains below approved levels.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider directing the City Manager to work with the RPD to establish a plan to reduce officer mandatory overtime.

Response: Implemented

Due: January 1, 2026 Scheduled: Monthly meetings between City Manager and Police Chief to reduce overtime. Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The recommendation has been implemented. The City Manager is currently working with the Police Chief regarding the reduction of mandatory overtime.

The RPD has the ability to train only 10 new officers at a time, using the available Field Training Officers, resulting in a limitation on the number of officers that could be hired.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The City partially disagrees with this finding. As officers gain experience, they can become Field Training Officers. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief partially disagrees with this finding. As new officers gain experience there is the potential to add officers to RPD's training cadre.

By January 1, 2026, the City Council should consider whether to allocate some of the Chevron Corporation settlement funds to the RPD to hire and retain more officers.

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

Richmond City Council Response: The recommendation will not be implemented. The Chevron Corporation settlement funds are one-time funding (starting in July 2025 and ending in 10 years). Staffing costs are not one-time costs, but ongoing and continuous costs.

Since the reallocation of RPD funds, mandatory overtime for police officers has increased.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The City partially disagrees with the finding. The need for overtime can vary due to several factors such as staffing levels and community demands. While the overtime for police officers has increased each year from FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24, it is notable that similar increases in overtime occurred pre-COVID between FY 2017-18 and FY 2020-21.

F10

Subsequent to the reallocation of RPD funds in 2021 the City Council approved the formation of the Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP).

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

F13

As of April 2025, the CCRP is not receiving calls for service via police dispatch.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.

F14

The need for agreement between the City and RPOA on duties to be performed and union representation of the CCRP is contributing to CCRP’s slow rollout.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The City partially disagrees with the finding. The City acknowledges that the unit determination matter paused progress with regards to hiring for the Community Intervention Specialist for approximately one year. However, it was resolved and progress resumed following a City Council vote at a Public Hearing on April 22, 2025.

F15

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

Richmond City Council Response: The City partially disagrees with the finding. The City will receive revenue from Chevron starting in July 2025. In addition, the settlement funds are one-time funding (starting in July 2025 and ending in 10 years). Staffing costs are not one-time costs, but ongoing and continuous costs.

F16

As of April 2025, The City Council has not determined how any of the Chevron settlement funds will be used.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Richmond City Council Response: The City agrees with the finding. Richmond Police Chief Response: The Chief agrees with the finding.