Community invited to meet with new Roanoke City Police Chief finalist; mayor reacts to announcement

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The Roanoke community is invited to meet with the finalist for the City of Roanoke Police Chief position on Wednesday, August 30 in Berglund Hall at the Berglund Center from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Scott Booth, Chief of Police in Danville, Virginia, will host a meet-and-greet for community members to ask questions and share thoughts with City elected officials and administrative leadership.

Chief Booth’s accomplishments, according to a city news release, include: 2018- 40% decline in firearm-related homicides, 2019- 22% reduction in all violent crime, 2020 – 0 gang involved homicides, 2020- transition from the highest per capita violent crime rate in 2017 to a 35-year low in all crime, 2022 – 50% reduction in all reported violent crime since model implementation.

“The City seeks a Chief of Police that will build upon the foundation already established with a continued emphasis on prevention, intervention, and enforcement. There is no doubt that Chief Booth has the demonstrated ability to lead the men and women of our City Police Department to execute on these objectives,” says City Manager Bob Cowell.

“In Chief Booth we have a leader that will work with the community and his officers to ensure Roanoke remains a safe place to live, conduct business, and visit.”

Roanoke’s Mayor Sherman Lea says he’s excited and looking forward to meeting Booth.

”Danville’s done a good job on gun violence and gang work. But as you know, being police chief is a little more involved than that,” said Lea. “I hope he can come in here and be a part of this city. We’re a city of a lot of cultures. “

Lea encourages everyone to attend the event on Wednesday at 6 at the Berglund Center.

WDBJ7 recently sat down exclusively with Chief Booth; click here to learn more about his leadership.

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