WHO: Mayor Brian Moore, Ward 4, Petersburg City Council
Councilman David Ray Coleman, Ward 7, Petersburg City Council
William E. Johnson, III, Petersburg City Manager
Chief John Dixon, Petersburg Police Department
Deputy Chief Brian Sturdivant, Petersburg Fire Department
Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, Adjutant General of Virginia, Virginia National Guard
WO1 Andrew Owen, Operation Renew Project Officer, Virginia National Guard
WHAT: Distinguished visitors day for Operation Renew demolition initiative with the
Virginia National Guard
WHEN: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: 110 North West St Petersburg, Virginia 23803
Background: The City of Petersburg has partnered with the Virginia National Guard for the third consecutive year for Operation Renew. Operation Renew provides assistance to communities in demolishing structures in the community that are public nuisances, have been deemed a public safety hazard and associated with the drug trade. Approximately 25 soldiers and airmen from Virginia National Guard engineer units will support local law enforcement by providing their expertise to demolish seven structures during the mission. In 2013, 15 structures were demolished in Petersburg.
Operation Renew enhances military readiness by allowing Army and Air Force National Guard members to utilize their equipment and exercise their military specialties in a real world mission. Soldiers from the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion and Airmen from the Camp Pendleton-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, Squadron are taking part in the mission.
The Petersburg mission is the third for Operation Renew under the supervision of the Virginia National Guard's Richmond-based Counterdrug Task Force. The program provides engineer assets to assist communities in reclaiming control of known drug trafficking areas by tearing down derelict structures associated with the drug trade.