News & Announcements
Staunton police officer loses battle to cancer
January 13, 2010 | Virginia News
Loved ones say Larner 'touched' everyone he knewSTAUNTON — A somber Staunton Police Department spent Tuesday gathering itself as word spread that one of its own had fallen victim to a two year battle with cancer.
Sgt. Thomas Larner passed away at his Churchville residence during the early morning hours of Tuesday with his wife, Angie, by his side. He was 36.
Bills, resolutions already filed by state lawmakers
January 11, 2010 | Virginia News
While a good deal of the 2010 General Assembly will be spent wrangling over the state budget, lawmakers also will propose legislation that could fundamentally change state law regarding guns, wireless-device usage and the death penalty.Measures addressing those issues are among the more than 325 bills and 69 resolutions already filed by lawmakers in advance of the session, which convenes Wednesday and runs through March 13.
State spending cuts get human face
January 8, 2010 | Virginia News
PORTSMOUTH — State lawmakers sat face-to-face with Hampton Roads' human fallout from looming spending cuts Thursday afternoon, as hundreds of local residents described anticipated dire straits triggered by potential cutbacks.During a sometimes grueling and occasionally uplifting hearing in Portsmouth, local residents told horror stories in vivid detail and explained how vital state support is for mental health care, education, law enforcement and even the arts.
Parents showed lawmakers pictures of murdered children, explaining how a state program facing cuts helped them navigate the judicial system. In-home health care providers talked about caring for bed-ridden patients. Mentally disabled citizens described their struggles to get treatment.
External Link to ArticleThe police want to be your BFF
January 7, 2010 | Virginia News
REMINGTON — From a small downtown office in a small Fauquier County town, the Remington Police Department is utilizing the latest online tools to connect with the community.The department uses Facebook, Twitter and Nixle, a free online service geared toward government agencies. Sgt. Charles Proffitt handles the department’s online presence.
“The chief wanted more community involvement,” said Proffitt, one of six officers in the department.
McDonnell Announces Three Additional Cabinet Appointments
January 6, 2010 | Virginia News
Appoints Jim Duffey as Secretary of Technology; Doug Domenech as Secretary of Natural Resources; Terrie Suit as Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth PreparednessRICHMOND- Virginia Governor-elect Bob McDonnell announced three additional appointments to his administration this morning in a press conference at the State Capitol.
McDonnell announced that Jim Duffey will serve as the Commonwealth’s next Secretary of Technology. Duffey worked for Electric Data Systems Corporation for 24 years, serving as Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Public Sector business, and is a former Vice-Chairman of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. McDonnell appointed Doug Domenech as Secretary of Natural Resources. Domenech served in a number of leadership roles in the United States Department of Interior, which manages nearly one-fifth of the land in the country, from 2001 to 2009. Domenech began his career in the forestry industry, later serving as a gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Board of Forestry. Finally, McDonnell named former delegate Terrie Suit as Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness. While in the House of Delegates, Suit concentrated on business, housing and military issues. She serves on the Virginia Military Advisory Council.
Augusta County Sheriff’s Office readies for cuts
January 5, 2010 | Virginia News
Twelve deputies could be pulled from the streets under proposed state budget cuts, Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher said Monday.Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s latest budget plan would slash $430,000, the equivalent of the total annual pay for about a dozen deputies, a year after the Sheriff’s Office cut spending by more than $200,000, Fisher said.
The Staunton and Waynesboro police departments also experienced budget setbacks, though not as severe as the Sheriff’s Office, Staunton police Chief Jim Williams said.
Almost $70,000 has been cut from Waynesboro’s fund and $82,000 from Staunton’s, according to a state Grants Administration memo released Dec. 28.
Retired Blackstone Police Chief Wayne Shields Passes Away
January 4, 2010 | VACP
Retired Chief Wayne Scott Shields, 70, of Wilsons, VA, died Saturday, January 2, 2010 in Chippenham Levinson Heart Center.Wayne began his career as a patrolman in law enforcement with the Petersburg City Police Department in 1961, quickly rising through the ranks; he was selected and graduated from the 95th F.B.I. Academy in 1973. After 17 years and becoming Acting Chief of Police for Petersburg Police Department, he bought a farm in Dinwiddie County, VA and was hired as the Chief of Police of Blackstone, VA., where he continued his passion of helping and serving his community for 23 more years, before retiring in 2003.
