Youngkin: Fairfax Co. 'better get it together' when it comes to supporting law enforcement
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is speaking out against leaders in Fairfax County as violent crime increases and Fairfax County faces an unprecedented police shortage.
“One of the things we did on day one was press for increased funding for state police, for deputy sheriffs, for our correctional officers to make sure that we could pay them,” said Youngkin. “We have a 20% increase in their starting salaries that was passed in the budget. We have money for funding for training for community programs and the counties have to do their share. And so, Fairfax County better get it together soon when it comes to supporting law enforcement, or they're going to have a real challenge.”
Some have criticized the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Chairman Jeff McKay for not addressing the police shortage more aggressively.
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The Fairfax County Police Department is short 150 to 200 officers, officials told 7News.
7News was the first to report that the Fairfax County Police Chief declared a personnel emergency---which means starting at the end of August---officers will work longer shifts and different hours.
READ | Fairfax County police chief declares personnel emergency amid staff shortage
On Thursday, 7News asked Chairman McKay if the county’s $200 million surplus will be used to address the police shortage and increase officer pay.
McKay did not say, yes.
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“Are you concerned about this police shortage?” 7News Reporter Nick Minock asked McKay.
“Everyone is concerned about this police shortage,” McKay responded. “What I'm not concerned about is that public safety is not being hampered in Fairfax County.”
“Several categories of crime are going up,” Minock told McKay.
“What I’m proud of is the chief came forward with a plan to address the staffing issue to make sure that public safety is not undermined,” said McKay.
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The governor is also taking aim at Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano.
“What happened during the last [Northam] administration during the pandemic was law enforcement was demeaned. They were demoralized, and candidly they saw their resources bleeding away,” said Youngkin. “And so this crisis is not new. The fact that Fairfax County is seeing such a depletion of law enforcement heroes also reflects a Commonwealth's Attorney that refuses to prosecute cases when people are arrested. Could there be anything more demoralizing for law enforcement heroes? And so Fairfax County has to get it together.”
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“I’m really disappointed that the governor would come and lie about the work we are doing,” Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano told 7News on Monday. “We work really hard to make our communities safe. Crime is down.”
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Descano and McKay have sparred with Youngkin in the past when there were protests outside U.S. Supreme Court Justice’s homes following a leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade.
“The brave men and women that are serving Fairfax County today, I have seen do their duty in an extraordinary way in protecting our justices and working hard in order to keep the community safe,” Youngkin told 7News. “And again, if we don't have Commonwealth attorneys that will prosecute. Let me tell you, it is the most demoralizing thing in the world. So we must prosecute after arrests and we have to raise compensation. And Fairfax County better get going.”
