Public Safety Archives

Police investigating suspected murder-suicide in East Richmond

by Joel Umanzor April 17, 2026, 11:01 p.m.April 22, 2026, 5:19 a.m.

Richmond police found a pair of people dead inside a home during a wellness check on Friday morning, marking the second homicide investigation in as many days.

Public Safety

Richmond’s first 2026 homicide: One dead in Fairmede-Hilltop shooting

by Joel Umanzor April 16, 2026, 10:56 p.m.April 22, 2026, 5:18 a.m.

A pair of people shot at each other Thursday morning, leaving one person dead and another injured, according to Richmond police.

Public Safety

It’s rattlesnake season. Here’s how to stay safe

by Callie Rhoades April 16, 2026, 3:17 p.m.April 16, 2026, 3:17 p.m.

Warm weather means venomous snakes are more active. Snakebites are uncommon but can be dangerous.

City

Richmond’s Flock license plate readers will be turned back on through 2026

by Joel Umanzor March 18, 2026, 5:33 p.m.March 23, 2026, 9:49 a.m.

The city council voted to extend the contract after the cameras were taken offline due to concerns about potential data breaches.

Public Safety

New details in mass shooting that claimed life of San Pablo teacher

by Roselyn Romero March 11, 2026, 8:32 a.m.March 11, 2026, 8:32 a.m.

The deaths of Richmond resident Latetia Bobo and a Stockton man were Oakland’s the 13th and 14th homicides of 2026.

City

Richmond residents debate whether Flock license plate cameras should be back online

by Joel Umanzor March 4, 2026, 4:55 p.m.March 4, 2026, 4:55 p.m.

City council members ran out of time to discuss it while Police Chief Timothy Simmons said delaying a decision hampers their ability to solve time-critical cases, such as one involving a missing minor believed to be a sex trafficking victim.

Public Safety

Richmond officers cleared for fatally shooting man in mental health crisis

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 27, 2026, 12:01 p.m.Feb. 27, 2026, 12:03 p.m.

Marine reservist Angel Montaño, 27, was shot and killed last August by police officers responding to a call for help from his family.

Public Safety

Video of 2025 police shooting shows man rushed at officers after being tased

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 18, 2026, 5:52 a.m.Feb. 23, 2026, 10:28 a.m.

Body camera footage shows police officers pleading with Jose Mendez to surrender. He was fatally shot after coming at them with what looked like a knife.

Schools

PG&E’s armed security has El Cerrito school community on edge

by Jana Kadah Feb. 11, 2026, 12:29 p.m.Feb. 12, 2026, 12:35 p.m.

The Fairmont Elementary community doesn’t want a private military service that works with ICE and Homeland Security near their school.

City

Richmond police cleared in death of man who was restrained and forcibly sedated

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 9, 2026, 6:32 p.m.Feb. 10, 2026, 10:03 a.m.

A San Francisco jury on Monday issued a verdict rejecting a claim that excessive force played a role in Concord man’s death during a 2021 encounter with Richmond officers.

Public Safety

I-80 shooting: DOJ identifies Richmond police detective who killed man

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 7, 2026, 1:18 p.m.Feb. 7, 2026, 4:45 p.m.

Brandon Hodges, a 13-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, was the officer who shot and killed Luis Angel Torres Rivera last month.

Public Safety

Son, 18, testifies he had to ‘raise himself’ after dad died in Richmond police custody

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 6, 2026, 5:39 p.m.Feb. 6, 2026, 5:42 p.m.

Richmond officers took the stand to defend their restraint tactics in a federal wrongful death civil trial expected to end Monday.

Public Safety

Former WCCUSD coach charged with sexual misconduct was fired in September

by Richmondside staff Feb. 5, 2026, 2:13 p.m.Feb. 5, 2026, 3:46 p.m.

A former Kennedy High girls varsity volleyball coach, who worked at several WCCUSD schools, was arrested on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Restrained and Sedated

Richmond police officer denies, in court, that ‘excessive’ force caused man’s death

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 4, 2026, 2:15 p.m.Feb. 4, 2026, 10:13 p.m.

One of the Richmond officers testifying in civil rights lawsuit breaks down in tears, insisting he only wanted to help Concord nurse Ivan Gutzalenko, who died in 2021 after being restrained and forcibly sedated.

Community

Will ICE be at the Super Bowl?

by Carlos Cabrera-Lomeli and Carly Severn Feb. 2, 2026, 3:11 p.m.Feb. 2, 2026, 3:12 p.m.

As Santa Clara prepares to host Super Bowl LX, anxieties about a possible ICE operation in the Bay Area have grown. Here’s what is known.

Public Safety

I-80 shooting: Man killed by Richmond detective identified

by Joel Umanzor Feb. 1, 2026, 7:52 p.m.Feb. 2, 2026, 7:03 a.m.

Luis Angel Torres Rivera, a father of two, was named by the state Department of Justice as the man who was killed on Jan. 22.

City

Photos: Richmond swears in 21st police chief

by Joel Umanzor Jan. 30, 2026, 5:28 p.m.Jan. 30, 2026, 5:53 p.m.

On Thur. Jan. 29, 2026 the city swore in Timothy Simmons as its police chief. Simmons has been with the department for 17 years.

Public Safety

Fire extinguishers, bottles reportedly thrown from Richmond’s 6-story BART garage

by Kari Hulac Jan. 30, 2026, 3:41 p.m.Jan. 31, 2026, 6:03 a.m.

One man says he was nearly hit on the head this week. The issue has apparently been going on since 2023, and residents and business owners are frustrated that BART hasn’t solved the potentially dangerous problem.