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2022 SESSION

22106240D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 152
Offered February 22, 2022
Celebrating the life of John Elwood Painter.
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Patrons-- Obenshain, Barker, Bell, Boysko, Chase, Cosgrove, Deeds, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hackworth, Hanger, Hashmi, Howell, Kiggans, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McDougle, McPike, Morrissey, Newman, Norment, Peake, Petersen, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Saslaw, Spruill, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Surovell and Vogel; Delegates: Bell and Wilt
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WHEREAS, John Elwood Painter, an honorable veteran, retired chief of police of Grottoes, and revered campus police officer at Bridgewater College, died in the line of duty on February 1, 2022; and

WHEREAS, born in Germany and raised in Augusta County, John Painter graduated from Riverheads High School before enlisting with the United States Air Force; and

WHEREAS, John Painter began his stellar career in law enforcement in 1989 as a deputy sheriff with the King George County Sheriff’s Office and later served as an intelligence analyst with the United States Army National Guard from 1999 to 2000; and

WHEREAS, John Painter was subsequently the chief of police for the Town of Grottoes for 18 years, where his exemplary dedication to the safety and well-being of others earned admiration from both his colleagues and the residents he served; and

WHEREAS, John Painter later joined Bridgewater College Police Department as a campus police officer in 2019 and quickly became a cherished and respected member of the community; and

WHEREAS, the heroism demonstrated by John Painter in his final hour saved an untold number of lives and will be honored for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, Bridgewater College recently established the John Painter and Vashon “J.J.” Jefferson Memorial Student Support Fund to memorialize John Painter’s legacy of service; and

WHEREAS, John Painter was a mentor and role model to many of his fellow law-enforcement officers, inspiring them to fulfill their oath to protect and serve others to the utmost of their abilities; and

WHEREAS, John Painter was an avid outdoorsman and noted animal lover, who took great joy in hunting and fishing and spending time with his dogs, Mercury and Bella; and

WHEREAS, in honor of John Painter’s sacrifice, flags in the Commonwealth were flown at half-staff on February 9, 2022, while thousands gathered at a memorial service at James Madison University’s Atlantic Union Bank Center to pay their respects; and

WHEREAS, John Painter will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his daughter, Courtney; his parents, Willie and Roswita; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of John Elwood Painter, former Grottoes chief of police and campus police officer with the Bridgewater College Police Department, whose bravery in his community’s time of need will never be forgotten; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of John Elwood Painter as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.