Police Chief to Present Five-Pillar GREAT Public Safety Plan to Alexandria City Council

Alexandria Police Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. is scheduled to present the new "GREAT" Public Safety Plan to the City Council on June 9, establishing technology as a central pillar for the department's future. The proposal follows a period of record-setting crime reduction, including a 57% per-capita drop that significantly outpaced regional averages. This strategic shift aims to modernize the department's infrastructure while addressing critical challenges such as an aging 911 system and personnel retention in the public safety technology sector.

The "GREAT" plan—an acronym for Geographical Policing and Accountability, Relationships, Evidence-Based Strategies and Enforcement, Assessment, and Technology—builds on a March update that identified technology as the Alexandria Police Department's (APD) next frontier. Data from a Brookings Institution DMV Monitor analysis showed Alexandria achieved a 57% per-capita crime reduction between late 2024 and late 2025, significantly higher than the Virginia average of 10% to 14%. Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. is now seeking to institutionalize these gains by targeting a top-1% national departmental rating by 2028 through data-driven deployment and enhanced technological capabilities.

The Technology pillar of the plan focuses on deploying real-time emergency information systems, expanding crime-analysis tools, and launching new digital engagement platforms. To support these advancements, the department is prioritizing planning for the associated costs and the specialized staffing required to maintain modern systems. A key component of this pillar is a commitment to community education and feedback before any major technology or surveillance decisions are finalized, reflecting a proactive approach to public oversight and privacy concerns.

Implementation of the GREAT plan occurs against a backdrop of significant budgetary and operational pressures within the $221 million public safety budget. The city is currently grappling with an aging 911 system and the loss of technical staff to private-sector technology firms, which complicates the rollout of new digital initiatives. Additionally, the Assessment pillar mandates improved data collection and transparent reporting on traffic stops, searches, and use-of-force incidents, requiring the department to strengthen its internal data analysis and outside research partnerships to ensure long-term accountability.