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Police chief’s exit expected Tuesday

Posted at 10:40 PM, Feb 11, 2013
and last updated 2013-02-12 08:22:16-05

Click here to watch the 9:00 a.m. announcement

RICHMOND, Va (WTVR)- High ranking city officials confirm that Mayor Dwight Jones will announce the departure of Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood from the department Tuesday morning.

A press conference has been set for 9 a.m. at city hall. At this time it is unconfirmed whether the chief departure will be announced in the form of a resignation or termination. The chief has been made aware of the announcement.

On the eve of the press conference several Norwood supporters took to the podium at the Richmond City Council meeting and following them came sentimental comments made by Richmond city council member Reva Trammell.

"If we lose him it's going to be the biggest loss for Richmond Virginia," said Trammell.

Many who spoke were pleading with council to keep the chief at the helm of the police department after a few very difficult weeks for Norwood. He was denied a job as Raleigh’s police chief and then shortly after found himself at the center of a Hollywood scandal, criticized by LA prosecutors for failing to properly supervise Chris Brown’s court ordered community service hours. But those in city hall chambers Monday night focused instead on the chief’s merits, one of which was the young adult police commission that he himself began.

"He shared kind words with us, he took us out in to the community, not to mention that he took us to his own parent's house,” said one young member of the commission.

Richmond City Council President Charles Samuels says he thinks it’s best for council to remain out of the mayor’s personnel decision and best that the mayor do the same for council appointments.

"I think we all knew that there were going to be some changes and we've seen some changes and we've seen a few here and there and we may very well see more, " said Samuels.