RICHMOND — The first Black woman ever to lead the Richmond Police Department is deciding to call it a career.
Chief Bisa French will step down on Jan. 16, 2026. She was appointed permanent police chief on July 16, 2020, 10 months after she took over in an interim role following the removal of then-Chief Allwyn Brown.
That appointment immediately made her an iconic figure in what is now a 120-year-old department. Seven years earlier, she had been named the first Black captain in the department.
“Serving the City of Richmond has been the honor of my life,” French said in a statement released by the department, announcing her decision. “Leading this department and working alongside the men and women of RPD has been the highlight of my career.”
French’s time atop the department was marked most notably by the lowest homicide totals on record. The city has recorded 20 homicides since the start of 2023, including only one in 2025. In 2023, the city recorded only eight of them, the lowest total since officials began keeping track in 1971.
Ten years ago, Richmond police recorded 21 homicides.
She advanced programs focused on transparency, training and community engagement.
In its release, the department noted that ‘throughout her career, she has been committed to building trust, strengthening community partnerships and guiding our department with compassion and integrity.”
French also was a champion for approaching critical incidents involving the mentally ill in a less violent way.
“We continue to talk about alternative responses,” French said a press conference last month to discuss a fatal police shooting on Aug. 4. “But we still leave up to mentally ill individuals to make decisions that they clearly not capable of making, and something has to change. I don’t have the answers for what can be done. I do hope there will be conversation about legislation and laws that get people that need mental help and assistance they need.”
Police said the city will begin its search for a new chief in the coming months.
Please check back for updates.