DANVILLE, Va. — Danville Police Department s most recent academy graduates last week completed post-academy training through Danville s proactive and innovative Community-based Leadership and Immersion Program.
DANVILLE, Va. â Three years ago, TyâQuan Graves made history as the youngest person ever elected to the Danville School Board at 20 years old. Now, Graves is looking to further engage the community through his new career as a Danville police officer.
Graves, who was sworn into his new role on April 13 and graduated from the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Academy in Martinsville on April 16, said he decided on police work as a way to make an impact in his community.Â
Graves had been working and volunteering in the Danville school division after he graduated, but couldnât do anything in the school system once he was elected to the board. He then went to Henry County schools and coached there, but he decided to return back to Danville.
Community members logged into Zoom on Thursday morning to participate in the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerceâs first Business @ Breakfast event held this year, which highlighted the work being done at the Danville Police Department and in gang violence prevention by Robert David.
Captain H. Steve Richardson of the investigations division gave information from the crime numbers in Danville for 2020, which reached 30-year lows in some areas.
In 2018, Richardson said the entire police department was restructured upon the arrival of Chief Scott Booth, which included a permanent gang and violent crime unit, a new focus on community engagement and an overall change in direction. A stratified police accountability model was introduced in a partnership with Radford University, as well as the use of data-driven efforts.