TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA (LOOTPRESS) – On January 6, 2023, a multijurisdictional operation was conducted in the Western part of Tazewell County, including the Towns of Cedar Bluff and Richlands. Law enforcement officers from The Richlands Police Department, The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, The Virginia State Police, and the Cedar Bluff Police Department, participated in the eight-hour-long operation, which was designed to focus on narcotics violations, impaired drivers, and safe driving practices. During the eight-hour timeframe, over twenty law enforcement officials participated from the aforementioned agencies, and were successful in identifying and charging multiple violations.
The following is a breakdown of the results among all agencies:
98 Traffic Stops Conducted
100 Citations Issued
2 Road Checks Conducted
18 Canine Deployments
6 Arrests
4 Methamphetamine Charges with 10 grams of Methamphetamine Seized
1 Charge of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
1 Concealed Weapon Seized
2 Fugitives from Justice Apprehended
The following are quotes from the leaders of the participating agencies:
“The results of the operation are a testament to what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to keep our communities safe. Let this operation serve as notice that we will not tolerate lawlessness in our Town, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those that make our community less safe through their actions. I would like to thank the Virginia State Police, Sheriff Hieatt, and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Chief Brown, and the Cedar Bluff Police Department for their participation. Growing the working relationship between our departments will continue to be a top priority for me and our agency.” Chief Ron Holt, Richlands Police Department
“I would like to thank Chief Holt for the invitation to participate in this successful operation. By working together, we can continue to be tough on crime and ensure the safety of our citizens.” Sheriff Brian Hieatt, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office
“My agency was honored to participate in a large-scale operation on January 6, 2023, with the Richlands Police Department, the Virginia State Police, and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, in the ongoing effort to stop/slow illegal narcotics being spread throughout our area.
It was truly a successful operation and an amazing display of what can be accomplished when agencies pool their resources and work together to accomplish a common goal. The planning and execution of this operation was exceptional. I would also like to add that the Tazewell County Dispatch center, and the Richlands Police Department Dispatchers, did a great job, handling a large number of calls, stops, and other requests during a short period of time. We are looking forward to participating in operations of this nature in the future.” Mike Brown, Chief of Cedar Bluff Police Department