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2023 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 309
Commending John W. Jones.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, February 16, 2023
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2023

 

WHEREAS, John W. Jones, esteemed criminal justice advocate and longtime executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, celebrated his 45th anniversary leading the organization in 2022; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 16, John Jones embarked on a distinguished public safety career that would span more than a half-century, becoming an emergency dispatcher for the South Hill Police Department, where he supported the area’s law-enforcement services and emergency response system in a time before 9-1-1; and

WHEREAS, John Jones earned a degree in administration of justice and public safety from Virginia Commonwealth University and shortly thereafter served as a criminal justice planner with what was then the Rappahannock-Rapidan Planning District Commission, aiding criminal justice planning and services in the region around Culpeper; and

WHEREAS, as executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association since 1977, John Jones has overseen one of the most influential criminal justice organizations in the Commonwealth, which currently supports 118 sheriffs and more than 9,800 deputy sheriffs; and

WHEREAS, John Jones’ primary responsibilities with the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association include managing the legislative priorities for his member sheriffs and deputy sheriffs and facilitating the passage of hundreds of bills and budget amendments intended to enhance criminal justice in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, John Jones has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to training and mentoring future generations of criminal justice professionals; each year, he delivers two training conferences to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs featuring the latest in trends and recent legislation; he also formerly served as an adjunct faculty member of Germanna Community College; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his leadership and expertise, John Jones was appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections to serve on a study that would recommend ways to improve the flow of legislation at the General Assembly, contributing to several recommendations that have been incorporated into the House and Senate rules; and

WHEREAS, John Jones has advanced his industry nationwide by maintaining a longstanding professional relationship with the National Sheriffs’ Association, including terms as chairman of the organization and of its Committee of State Sheriffs’ Associations, and by representing the nation’s sheriffs as a member of the board of directors of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend John W. Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, on the occasion of his 45th anniversary leading the organization; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John W. Jones as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his leadership and service.