After 36 years in law enforcement, Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall is turning in his badge.

Attorney General Jason Miyares, former Governor George Allen, local law enforcement, and other leaders gathered to address the issue

On Thursday, Roanoke County Chief of Police Howard Hall announced that his retirement will be effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

Attorney General Jason Miyares says releasing those who served time behind bars could potentially lead to more crime, and some law enforcement officials agree.

We’re working for you to answer dozens of questions about cannabis that we’ve received since Virginia legalized marijuana on April 7.

In just a matter of days, marijuana will be legal in the Commonwealth. Now, public safety officials are raising concerns about an increase in impaired driving.

The legalization of marijuana has come with a lot of changes to laws, restrictions, and regulations across the Commonwealth.

In three weeks, a big change is coming to the Commonwealth as Virginia’s new law to legalize recreational use of marijuana will take effect. The change impacts police departments across the state and their K9 officers.

As state leaders prepare for the legalization of marijuana here in Virginia come July 1, local advocacy groups and law enforcement agencies are raising concerns over an increase in use among teenagers and young adults.

As the commonwealth prepares to legalize marijuana in just a few short months, local law enforcement agencies have major concerns about the legislation.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – New legislation taking effect Monday makes it harder for authorities in Virginia to pull over drivers. These include certain defective equipment, objects dangling from your rearview mirror, loud exhaust, tinted windows and smelling marijuana to name a few. Haywood said these violations have long been used to stop people for drug investigations and disproportionately target people of color. On the other side, Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said it’s not about race, but safety and enforcing the law. “There really isn’t much point behind this and it’s really not going to accomplish anything positive,” Hall said.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Roanoke County leaders are springing into action as the police department deals with record shortages. “26 is darn close to 20% of our workforce out in a year and you know we still have another five weeks left of the year,” Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said. When it comes to starting pay, Roanoke County isn’t far off from others in our area, at $39,221. The table below shows how Roanoke County compares to some other localities in the region:Locality Starting Officer Salary Radford $42,555 Montgomery County $40,800 Lynchburg $40,019 Roanoke County $39,221 Roanoke City $38,639.75 Danville $36,812 Franklin County About $36,000 Bedford County $34,641It’s the pay beyond that starting salary holding Roanoke County leaders back. Hall said they should have a proposal for a new pay scale soon.

A new law would limit what offenses police officers could pull people over for. Law enforcement agencies and race and inequality experts have mixed reactions. The bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly stops law enforcement officers from stopping or searching anyone solely based upon the odor of marijuana. Law enforcement has no interest in doing something like that," said Ramsey. The governor has to sign the bill by Wednesday night or he can recommend changes and send it back to the General Assembly.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. As the Virginia General Assemblys Special Session continues, some controversial police reform measures are moving forward. The VACP is especially concerned about two measures making their way through the General Assembly. A bill dropping the charge for assaulting a law enforcement officer from a felony to a misdemeanor cleared the Senate last week. Any mitigation of accountability for that crime is a bad idea and potentially endangers our officers, Hall said. Its now week three of the Special Session with no end in sight.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Police reform will take center stage in Virginia during next week’s special session. With all eyes on police reform, those who enforce the laws are speaking up, hoping those who make the laws will listen. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP) is taking a stance on nearly 40 measures up for debate. Hall said there’s always room for improvement, but not being realistic could threaten the safety of our communities and our officers. “I think it would make Virginia a more dangerous place,” Hall said.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – The Roanoke County Police Department is dealing with the worst staffing issues it’s ever had. “Most of the people that were hired around the same time as me, a lot of them have left. “I think a lot of times we’re discouraged with the negativity in the current climate and the way that law enforcement is portrayed,” Schmitt said. The Roanoke County Police Department is holding a Diversity in Law Enforcement Recruiting event on Aug. 25. It’s happening at 6 p.m. at the Roanoke County Criminal Justice Academy, located at 5401 Barnes Ave. Officers will be present to answer questions and talk about starting a career in law enforcement.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Ahead of a special Virginia General Assembly session in August on police reform, the first of three joint House committee meetings were held Wednesday. During the Joint Meeting of Courts of Justice and Public Safety Committees on Wednesday morning, lawmakers pushed for transparency and accountability when it comes to citizen complaints and misconduct investigations. Law enforcement talked about the importance of accreditation, training and body-worn cameras. As lawmakers put lead law enforcement officials in the hot seat looking to make change, Hall said that those changes have to be specific and actionable. “I think we have to be very careful in trying to understand what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Hall.

I dont know of any police department that trains to, you know, put your knee on somebodys neck or somebodys head, said Hall. In Virginia, all law enforcement officers have one year to meet minimum training standards set by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, including on use of force and deescalation. Halls department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, which holds them to stricter requirements. It forces, almost, law enforcement agencies to be very transparent," said Rick Morrison, who retired from the Roanoke City Police Department as a captain and now works as a law enforcement consultant. The Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Lynchburg and Blacksburg Police Departments are just a few that made the cut.

ROANOKE, Va. – LATESTThe search for three missing Roanoke County kids ended on Wednesday when Cameron, Emma and Colin Allison were all found safe. “The children have been turned over to South Carolina authorities who will coordinate with the Roanoke County Department of Social Services to get them safely returned,” Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said. The search for Roanoke County three kids at the center of an Amber Alert continues. When the parents were called, they would not cooperate, according to Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall. Possible abductor (Roanoke County Police)May be in company of children (Roanoke County Police)For further information contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-777-8798, 540-777-8799 or the Virginia State Police at #77.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - As Labor Day approaches, Roanoke-area law enforcement agencies are cracking down on drunk driving. If you're driving in Virginia between now and Labor Day, expect to see a lot of law enforcement. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall said the Roanoke Valley is no exception. But not just that, also drunk driving arrests are up, drunk driving convictions are up," Erickson said. A TV commercial encouraging people not to drink and drive will also air between now and Labor Day.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - Storing guns safely: That's the message you're going to be hearing over the next few weeks as kids go back to school in Roanoke County. "The one thing that keeps me up is having a weapon get into our school system," said Don Butzer, Roanoke County School Board chair. "It scares kids, it scares families about the potential of those things winding up in schools," said Dr. Ken Nicely, Roanoke County School superintendent. A Cave Spring Middle School student brought a loaded gun to school in 2018. Keep them inaccessible to people that aren't supposed to have them," said Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall.

Police chiefs across the Roanoke Valley are joining together for a new campaign called "Locked on Gun Safety." Storing, making safe, securing their weapons in their vehicles all of these things are important to making our community safer, safer for adults, safer for children," said Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones. Roanoke County: Montclair Estates Neighborhood Watch Group will be held at Green Ridge Baptist Church (5521 Green Ridge Rd.) from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Sun Valley Neighborhood Watch Group will be held at Summerdean Church of the Brethren (6604 Plantation Rd.) Pleasant Neighborhood Watch Group will be held at Explore Park (56 Roanoke River Pkwy.)