NORFOLK, Va. — The new police chief of the Mermaid City has been on the job for nearly two months. He officially started his post at Norfolk Police Department (NPD) on May 1.
And Monday evening, he virtually met with members of the Downtown Norfolk Civic League to talk about public safety, his strategies and department challenges.
Chief Mark Talbot said crime in the downtown area is down by 65%, when compared to this time last year.
Still, Talbot told residents and business owners that crime reduction, performance culture, morale and fully staffing the force are some of his top priorities.
There are currently 280 vacancies at NPD, not counting recruits, according to the chief. With recruits, there are 243 vacancies. Talbot said the department hovered at 250 vacancies in 2022.
"We are losing police officers earlier in their careers. They are going off and doing different things," said Talbot. "We have to find ways in our cities to make policing the best option. There's a role for all of us to play."
In addition to recruitment and retention, Talbot is focused on weaving in community engagement with every day police work.
Talbot has three decades of experience in law enforcement, including stints as police chief in Norristown, Pennsylvania and across the water from Norfolk in Hampton.
After former Norfolk police chief Larry Boone abruptly retired, Mark Talbot helped interview candidates for the Norfolk job before Norfolk city manager Chip Filer asked Talbot to apply.
Mike Goldsmith, a former chief, took over temporarily as interim police chief after Boone's sudden departure.