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2022 SESSION

22106831D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 400
Offered March 7, 2022
Commending Dana Lawhorne.
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Patrons-- Bennett-Parker; Senators: Ebbin and McPike
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WHEREAS, Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff of the City of Alexandria and an esteemed law-enforcement officer who served for many years in the Alexandria Police Department’s uniformed patrol and criminal investigations divisions, retired in 2021; and

WHEREAS, a native of Alexandria, Dana Lawhorne graduated from the former T.C. Williams High School before earning an associate degree in administration of justice from Northern Virginia Community College and completing the Executive Leadership Institute program offered by the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association; and

WHEREAS, for over 27 years with the Alexandria Police Department, Dana Lawhorne supported the community’s welfare by assisting youth and families as a detective and by serving on numerous public safety task forces and committees, as chair of the board of the Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan, as team leader for the city’s hostage negotiation team, as a field training officer for new police recruits, and as a member of the Alexandria Police Department’s honor guard; and

WHEREAS, Dana Lawhorne’s efforts were instrumental to the development of policies and procedures governing the Alexandria Police Department’s protocols for hostage and barricade operations, the treatment of juvenile offenders, and violence prevention and response; and

WHEREAS, Dana Lawhorne became Sheriff of the City of Alexandria in 2006 and remained in the post for four terms, providing 16 years of exceptional leadership and service to the locality and its residents; and

WHEREAS, during Dana Lawhorne’s tenure, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office expanded educational opportunities for inmates, enhanced public safety initiatives, increased law-enforcement training and professional development opportunities for staff, spearheaded various community outreach efforts, and more; and

WHEREAS, with a deep understanding of what can be accomplished through a strong partnership with the community, Dana Lawhorne continually honored his commitment to fostering connections between the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office and the residents in its jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, Dana Lawhorne’s legacy in Alexandria includes service on the city’s Community Criminal Justice Board, the Northern Virginia Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Committee, and the board of Ivy Hill Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, beyond his duties as a law-enforcement officer, Dana Lawhorne has given generously of his time through his involvement with local civic associations and Alexandria City Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, Dana Lawhorne has earned countless honors, awards, and expressions of appreciation throughout his career as a result of his dedication to excellence, including the Lifetime Valor Award from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in 2021; and

WHEREAS, as he concludes his duties as a law-enforcement officer, Dana Lawhorne plans to remain active in the community and to spend more quality time with his loving wife, Linda, as well as his children and grandchildren; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Dana Lawhorne, a respected law-enforcement officer and Sheriff of the City of Alexandria, on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dana Lawhorne as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement.