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2016 SESSION
16106381DWHEREAS, Police Chief George T. Owens, a retired law-enforcement officer who served as the founding police chief of the Prince William County Police Department beginning in July of 1970, died on March 11, 2016; and
WHEREAS, a native of Saranac Lake, New York, Chief Owens was born on August 7, 1930; he served his country in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953, stationed at Vint Hill Farms Army Station in Virginia, where he achieved the rank of corporal; and
WHEREAS, Chief Owens joined the Virginia State Police in June of 1953, where he achieved the rank of sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Chief Owens was selected as founding chief of the Prince William County Police Department in 1970, which began with 40 officers, two commanders, eight dispatchers, and two secretaries and over the years grew substantially to 268 officers, 74 civilian staff members, 95 crossing guards, and 22 animal control employees at the time of his retirement in 1988; and
WHEREAS, under Chief Owens’ leadership, the Prince William County Police Department became the 55th fully accredited law-enforcement agency in the nation and the 11th in Virginia and received the Governor’s Community Crime Prevention award; and
WHEREAS, Chief Owens graduated from the FBI National Academy; and
WHEREAS, the Prince William County Public Safety Communications Center was dedicated in honor of Chief Owens in 1988; and
WHEREAS, a man of great faith, Chief Owens served as a deacon at Dale City Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Chief Owens will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Viola, one daughter, three sons, and eight grandchildren; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Police Chief George T. Owens, a devoted law-enforcement officer; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Police Chief George T. Owens as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s respect for his memory.