VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) — Rajeeb Islam, who currently is in prison, is not only the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission Chair, but he is also Virginia Beach EMS captain.
After he was denied bond last week, Islam won’t see the courtroom again until his preliminary hearing on February 28th. Police said Islam is charged with two counts of simple assault on a family member and attempted malicious wounding by stab or cut.
Now that he’s gone, the commission is left with an empty seat. Sylvia Nery-Strickland, the Vice Chairman of the Commission said they’re still in shock.
"Surprise, a total surprise. I think everyone was. We are the heartbeat, we keep the pulse of the citizens of Virginia Beach, said Nery-Strickland.
The commission held a meeting on Tuesday night to decide who gets the power now that Islam is behind bars.
In Islam's absence, the next senior officer will step up, but the commission said they can't strip Islam of his title. There are three ways that Islam could potentially lose the title.
"That's to step down, to be taken off by the city council, or to miss three meetings during a year,” said Nery-Strickland.
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