Four new officers were pinned by their family members this afternoon for the Danville Police Department!

Millions of Americans face the risk of homelessness due to financial instability. A couple staying at the Roanoke Rescue Mission shares their struggles with finding affordable housing and their gratitude for receiving free haircuts before their wedding.

ROANOKE/LYNCHBURG, Va. If the Fourth of July celebrated the red, white and blue, the Fifth of July focused on black and blue thanks to two opposing events. A Back the Blue rally in support of police congregated at Roanokes Veterans Memorial Sunday afternoon. Its not okay.The rallies were extreme opposites when it comes to the issue of police reform. Attendees at the Back the Blue rally, including recently retired Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones, strongly opposed any decrease in police budgets. It was repulsive and disgusting.That officer as an individual, he brought shame on the blue, Arrington said.

ROANOKE, Va. – Hundreds of friends and fellow officers honored a former Roanoke Police Department sergeant during his funeral Saturday afternoon. Erik “Ed” Johnson passed away Nov. 15 at 45 years old from brain cancer. He had served with the Roanoke Police Department for 21 years before his death, and also served with the Army in Afghanistan. Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones said Johnson knew how to show his human side, even while wearing the badge. A soldier presented one to his widow, while Jones presented the other one to his only child.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – One North Carolina church is getting attention for appearing to take a political stance on the impeachment hearings. Resurrection Baptist Church in Kannapolis put up a sign that says: “Trying to impeach Jesus too! Won’t happen either!”The church’s pastor says he sees the impeachment inquiry on President Trump as a sign society has become godless. The IRS forbids churches from taking political stances if they want to be exempt from paying taxes. Resurrection Baptist has filed for that status -- but Pastor Tim Jones insists his church does pay taxes.

This will be the second news conference of the day. Below is the first update Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones provided

ROANOKE, Va. - Roanoke leaders are getting a clearer picture of what people want in their next police chief. Residents still have time to complete an online survey to give feedback to the city. More than 500 people had submitted them as of Monday, city manager Bob Cowell told 10 News Tuesday. Cowell has met in person with around 30 people in the community as another way to seek input. "They want to see a chief that's very engaged in the community -- in a meaningful way," Cowell said.

ROANOKE, Va. - Two minutes out of your day could change the course of Roanoke's future. The search is on for a new Roanoke city police chief, and city officials want your help. If you live or have a business in Roanoke, you're invited to take a survey to help with the recruitment efforts. On Aug. 20, current police Chief Tim Jones submitted a letter with his intention to retire effective Feb. 1, 2020, with 39 years of service. City officials say they are interested in learning the community's preferences when it comes to Jones' replacement.

ROANOKE, Va. - You can find gun safety courses at businesses and police departments but when it comes to how the classes are taught, there's no set standard in Virginia. "I don't think guns are going anywhere. They've been around a long time and they're going to continue to be around," said Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones, who wants to see change when it comes to gun safety classes. "The course we teach is offered by our firearms instructors who have decades of experience," said Eric Orange, Roanoke County's sheriff, who adds they had to develop their own gun safety course. We often use the term in law enforcement, 'Let's don't reinvent the wheel.'

ROANOKE, Va. - A Roanoke restaurant honored both the victims who died on 9/11 and also local first responders. Mission BBQ held a ceremony Wednesday and also gave out free sandwiches to local first responders. Roanoke police Chief Tim Jones said this gesture is about more than just a free meal. Mission BBQ also provides Veterans Day sandwiches to those who served in the armed forces. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

ROANOKE - Hundreds of guns are ending up on the streets. Those guns can be used in crimes and possibly lead to those crimes being unsolved. Hundreds of guns are being stolen across Virginia, and Lynchburg Police Officer John Pavia says it's not getting better. We investigated and just so far this year:85 guns were stolen in Roanoke24 in Lynchburg37 in DanvilleJones says they're seeing stolen guns used in crimes, and some of the guns are from as far as 100 miles away. Many times they'll find guns sitting between the driver's seat and the armrest and that's how guns may end up on the street.

ROANOKE, Va. - There's more reaction this week to the announcement Thursday that Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones will retire early next year. Some members of the community who have been critical of Jones said Monday that the department needs to make some changes under a new leader. Catherine Koebel, of the group Roanoke Indivisible, and Karen Cobb, formerly with Moms Demand Action, said Jones has been divisive and they're happy he's stepping down. She believes there should be more collaboration between officers and community leaders when it comes to preventing crime and she feels the department needs more implicit bias training. Koebel and Cobb believe the opposition Jones faced from voices like theirs was a factor in his decision to step down.

He said his nearly 39-year career, which he began in Roanoke when he was 21 year old, has been fulfilling and rewarding. He said he has appreciated the calls and emails of support he's received during periods when he's faced criticism. Some have alleged that the Roanoke Police Department does not keep up with the most up-to-date policing policies, a claim Jones denies. Whoever the next chief is, Jones hopes they understand the importance of community engagement, which has been a major push for the department. He said he's looking forward to his final few months as chief, and to having plenty of time to go fishing during retirement.

ROANOKE, Va. - After serving the city for more than 39 years, Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones is set to retire. Jones' retirement will go into effect Feb. 1, 2020. Jones was named acting chief after the retirement of Chris Perkins on March 1, 2016. City Manager Bob Cowell will soon initiate a national search for a new chief. The process will involve an executive search firm and will, as in similar searches in the past, include extensive community engagement.

But this year, along with hearing concerns from community members, police are pushing gun safety awareness in the Roanoke Valley. The Roanoke city, Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton police departments collaborated on a new campaign that they announced Tuesday called Locked On Gun Safety. Law enforcement leaders said problems caused by a lack of gun safety are increasing in their jurisdictions. Police said the two mass shootings over the weekend add immediacy to all gun safety topics. Jones believes the gun safety responsibilities people have extend to situations where they might have concerns about someone in their community.

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.)

The first time Chief Tim Jones read an email about the needle exchange program, he said, "nope." Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

While Roanoke police chief Tim Jones says adding more officers won't fix the issue, downtown business owners say they're still going to hire off-duty officers. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - After years of seeing crime numbers drop, Roanoke police saw crime increase in 11 percent in 2016 compared to 2015. During Monday's Roanoke City Council meeting, Jones highlighted factors contributing to the increase, such as opioid addiction and a rising number of "association-based" crimes. In addition to violent crimes, Jones said mental health is a concern. Moving forward, the chief said the public will play a key role in bringing crime numbers back down. Jones said crime numbers in Roanoke had been decreasing since 2013.