Recently, Chesterfield County officials witnessed the swearing in of the county’s first African American police chief, Lt. Colonel Frank Carpenter. For longtime observers of the county’s politics, this news would’ve seemed like science fiction a few decades ago. But here we are.

The selection of Carpenter reflects the evolving image of Chesterfield County. Along with its growing population, the county has become increasingly diverse. African American residents now make up 23.63% of the community, while Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.86%, illustrating a shift toward greater multicultural representation.

Of course, there is still work to be done in terms of equity and fairness in Chesterfield. We look to the county officials recent decision to stymie Bensley Agrihood project as evidence that pockets of “old Chesterfield” still exist and will attempt to defer progress.

The chief recently said that he’s been treated with “support,” from county officials and we hope that relationship continues to strengthen. Being the first African American to lead a department comes with burdens and challenges compounded by the weight of representation. It’s not listed in the job description, but we know it’s part of the role.

As he settles into the job, we also hope the new chief is willing to reconsider the department’s transparency and accountability efforts. Currently, Chesterfield has strict policies on releasing body-cam footage and has fought to keep names of their employees hidden. This is not the way. People need to know who is supposed to be protecting them and how they’re doing their job. 

If Chesterfield wants change, it should start with new policies.