Alexandria Police Department’s Chief Chad Gremillion issued the following statement after UrbanCast’s recent article “Leadership Under Fire: Who’s Really Protecting Alexandria?”
We appreciate UrbanCast’s role in covering public safety and keeping the community informed. However, their recent article contains several misrepresentations that must be addressed.
First, no one is “under fire.” The Alexandria Police Department remains fully focused on fighting crime, supporting our officers, and communicating with the public. Over the weekend, our detectives made significant arrests tied to violent incidents. As with all sensitive investigations, the timing and method of releasing information are based on operational priorities, the safety of victims and witnesses, and the integrity of the case—not media favoritism.
I released information to outlets that report facts—not sensationalized headlines aimed at driving clicks. That’s not bias; that’s responsibility.
The article also highlights our officer shortage. That’s true—and it’s something we’ve publicly acknowledged. We are short, and yet the men and women of the Alexandria Police Department continue to protect this city under incredible pressure. They are not just maintaining—they are making arrests, solving violent crimes, and answering calls around the clock. Very few police forces our size or larger are fully staffed. We could be fully staffed, but that isn’t going to predict two young men who are beefing over something so senseless from shooting one another. Stopping that comes from the home or the morals of these individuals.
UrbanCast has previously requested that they be involved in APD’s recruitment efforts. I take great offense to that request. How can you expect to help recruit officers while consistently painting our city in the worst light? A local physician recently told me their practice lost a highly qualified doctor because of negative coverage from UrbanCast. When all someone sees are posts about “heavy police presence”—often attached to minor or non-criminal incidents—why would they want to bring their family here?
Let me give you an example. A recent post referenced “heavy police presence” near LA-28 and Georgetown. What UrbanCast failed to explain is that our officers were there ensuring traffic safety for a bicycle fundraiser. Yes, there was a large police presence—because we were protecting families and children on bikes from potential harm. Framing that as a public safety threat is misleading and irresponsible.
Did UrbanCast report on:
The flawless execution of the City of Alexandria’s River Fête?
The 100 new jobs coming to Procter & Gamble?
The fact that El Paso’s closure on MacArthur is paired with a new restaurant opening off Versailles?
Or the peaceful, well-attended Juneteenth celebration downtown?
No. But had there been an incident at one of those events, I’m sure we’d have seen another post about “heavy police presence.”
As for the accusation that this administration prioritizes PR over public safety: that is flat-out wrong. Public safety is our mission. Everything else is secondary.
We welcome accountability—but it must be based on facts, not assumptions or narratives. We will continue releasing timely, accurate information to outlets that uphold journalistic standards and are committed to informing—not alarming—the public.
We invite UrbanCast, along with all other media partners, to join us in a shared responsibility: to support the men and women who are truly protecting Alexandria—our officers—and to tell the full story of a city that deserves better than one-sided headlines. Our community needs media, but we must have media that is not FAKE NEWS, biased or that does not misrepresent the facts.
Who’s really protecting Alexandria? The men and women who choose to leave their families and protect and serve every single day!
Chief Chad Gremillion
Alexandria Police Department