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2023 SESSION

23103518D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 260
Offered January 11, 2023
Commending Colonel Anthony Steven Pike.
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Patrons-- Locke, Barker, Bell, Boysko, Chase, Cosgrove, Deeds, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hackworth, Hanger, Hashmi, Howell, Lewis, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McDougle, McPike, Morrissey, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Petersen, Pillion, Reeves, Rouse, Ruff, Saslaw, Spruill, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Surovell and Vogel; Delegates: Mullin, Shin, Sickles and Ware
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WHEREAS, Colonel Anthony Steven Pike retired as chief of the Virginia Division of Capitol Police in December 2022, as one of the longest-serving chiefs in the division’s history, after more than a decade of exceptional service to state officials and visitors to the Virginia Capitol; and

WHEREAS, a native of Wythe County, Anthony “Steve” Pike has dedicated his life to public service, beginning in 1983, when he joined the United States Army; he was stationed at Fort Ord, California, as a light infantry soldier and was selected as the honor graduate of the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, then served a short time in the United States Army Reserve, from which he was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant; and

WHEREAS, in January 1988, Steve Pike began a 22-year career with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, where he steadily worked his way up the ranks to become assistant chief; in 1994, he was the first recipient from the agency to receive the Law Enforcement Award from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and in 1999, he was selected as Virginia Game Warden of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike graduated from the 227th session of the FBI National Academy and served in various capacities with the Virginia Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates, including as president in 2012; he also graduated from the 64th session of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Executive Management Program, and the Commonwealth Management Institute; and

WHEREAS, on December 25, 2010, Steve Pike joined the Virginia Division of Capitol Police as the assistant chief and, on October 11, 2011, was appointed as the chief of police by the Legislative Support Commission; his distinguished tenure as chief capped a 34-year career in public safety throughout which he devoted himself fully to the service of the Commonwealth and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Capitol Police is responsible for 24-hour public safety services to members of the Virginia General Assembly; the governor and the first family of the Commonwealth; the lieutenant governor; the attorney general; the justices of the Virginia Supreme Court; judges of the Virginia Court of Appeals; thousands of state employees; and more than 100,000 annual visitors to the Capitol complex; Steve Pike earned high praise from leaders on both sides of the aisle for his calm, steady leadership style and his ability to adapt to significant changes in the security climate of the Commonwealth and the United States; as well as navigating the effects of a global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike used national best practices to modernize Capitol Square security and build up to its current enhanced posture; he held various leadership positions within the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), serving on numerous committees and task forces, and served as both vice president and president of the National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA); and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike received the NCSL Legislative Staff Achievement Award in 2017, the NLSSA John Everhardt “Trooper” Award in 2018, and the NLSSA Tony Beard Memorial Award in 2019, and is a graduate of the NCSL Legislative Staff Management Institute; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike helped the Virginia Capitol Police earn three consecutive accreditations from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission; he also served on the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission for several years, including terms as vice chair and chair; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike elevated the professionalism of the Virginia Capitol Police in many ways; by expanding the number of both sworn officers and professional staff and leading aggressive recruiting measures to ensure high quality applicants and maintain officer retention; he led the agency to become certified as a Virginia Values Veterans Program by focusing on hiring military veterans and joined the 30 x 30 Pledge, a nationwide initiative to increase the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in policing; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike oversaw enhancements in law-enforcement training, technology, and techniques; he implemented the agency’s first body-worn camera program; and he upgraded and expanded the agency’s K-9 division, constructing a state-of-the-art new facility at Capitol Square to serve as the leading establishment in the region for training police dogs and their handlers; and

WHEREAS, under Steve Pike’s outstanding leadership the Virginia Capitol Police provided safety planning and law-enforcement services for three gubernatorial inaugurations and other major events, including the filming of the movie “Lincoln” in 2011, public auditions for the show “American Idol” in 2014, and the UCI Road World Championships in 2015; and

WHEREAS, during Steve Pike’s tenure as chief, the Virginia Capitol Police ably responded to the unique challenges of providing law-enforcement services for more than 700 rallies and similar events on Capitol Square, some of which drew more than 20,000 participants and many of which were spontaneous, unpermitted rallies, including a steady stream of large protests in the spring and summer of 2020; and

WHEREAS, in 2017, Steve Pike was selected by Governor Ralph Northam to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Public Safety Preparedness and Response to Civil Unrest, to which he offered critical insights; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike guided the Virginia Capitol Police’s efforts to obtain citywide jurisdiction, enabling the Virginia Capitol Police to become a more effective participant with its regional law-enforcement partners; he also advocated for changes to allow the agency to provide law-enforcement services to the governor-elect, attorney general-elect, the lieutenant governor-elect, and judges of the Virginia Court of Appeals; and

WHEREAS, Steve Pike is an exemplar of the dedication to duty, professionalism, and leadership displayed by law-enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth and across the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Colonel Anthony Steven Pike on the occasion of his retirement as chief of the Virginia Division of Capitol Police; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Colonel Anthony Steven Pike as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his achievements in service to the Commonwealth.