| Awards |
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The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) presents awards for Deputy Sheriff of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year, and Valor annually. The Dispatcher and Deputy of the Year Awards and all Valor Awards made by the Committee shall be recognized during the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference. Please click HERE to review the VSA Awards Policy.
Deputy Sheriff Valor Award The Valor Award may be awarded to any deputy sheriff whose extraordinary heroism, dedication, and courage in the performance of his/her duties, shows selfless bravery, extreme personal risk, and supreme sacrifice clearly above and beyond the call of duty and rises above other exceptional acts. Nominations for Valor Awards should include information about the candidate, whether the nominee is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and a detailed description of the valorous activity. Please attach documentation such as in-depth reports, letters of reference, press releases/articles, nominee’s resume, and nominee’s photograph. A candidate for the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Valor Award must be a sworn Virginia deputy sheriff at the time of the incident. Past Winners: 2025 : Lieutenant Joey Adams, Halifax County Deputy Eddie Daw, Lancaster County Deputy Norman Sibley, Lancaster County Deputy Howard Phillips, Lunenburg County Sergeant Shad Hudson, City of Lynchburg Deputies Michael Fedorchuk, Michael Lester, and Hunter Reedy (Posthumous), Smyth County Captain Daniel Harris, Spotsylvania County 2024: Deputy Brian Thomas, Frederick County Deputy Bryan Sparks, Hanover County Sergeant Michael Panos, Henry County Deputies Chastity Toretta & Ryan Carreira, City of Norfolk Deputy Amanda Mele, Spotsylvania County 2023: Deputy (ret.) Robbie Robinson, Wise County Sheriff's Office 2021: Deputy Christopher W. Wade, Rockbridge Sheriff’s Office 2020: Deputy Matthew Keeley and Lieutenant Kent Mullen, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office 2019: Officers Charlie Brinkley and Dustin Brown, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office 2018:
Lieutenant Jason E. Meador, Amherst County Sheriff’s Office; Deputies William E. Lewis and Daniel R. Bell, Northampton County Sheriff’s Office; Sergeant H. David Hopkins, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office 2017: Lieutenant Seth Bowen, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award This award is intended to recognize a deputy sheriff who has shown unusual initiative and imagination in the performance of his/her duty during the 2025 calendar year, as well as participation in activities that improve the quality of life in the community. A meritorious act of service involving any of the functions of the office of the sheriff (i.e., law enforcement, corrections, court services, etc.) is not mandatory to receive this award. The nomination should include information about the candidate, whether the nominee is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and a description outlining major accomplishments, including activities in law enforcement, criminal justice and in the community. Please attach supporting documentation such as reports, letters of reference, press releases/articles, nominee’s resume or nominee’s photograph. A candidate for the prestigious Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award must be a sworn, full-time Virginia deputy sheriff. Only one deputy will receive the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award each year. Past Winners: 2025 : Master Deputy Christopher Meyer, Fauquier County 2024: Detective Shannon Almborg, Loudoun County 2023: Investigator Scott Chambers, City of Chesapeake 2022: Detective Jenna Sullivan, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office 2021: Deputy Jacob Wright, City of Norfolk Sheriff’s Office 2020: Senior Detective Jason Clark, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office 2019: Deputy First Class Colin Whittington, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office 2018: Deputy Sheriff IV Chad Beheler, Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office 2017:
Sergeant Chad Abate, Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office
Dispatcher of the Year Award The Dispatcher of the Year award is intended to recognize one dispatcher who has shown unusual initiative and imagination in the performance of his/her duty during the 2025 calendar year, as well as participation in activities that improve the quality of life in the community. A meritorious act of service involving any of the functions of the office of the sheriff (i.e., law enforcement, corrections, court services, etc.) is not mandatory to receive this award. This award is intended to recognize a dispatcher who has shown unusual initiative, exceptional dedication, and courage in the performance of his/her duties to include, extraordinary judgment, bravery, lifesaving(s) and rescue(s). The nomination should include information about the candidate, whether the nominee is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and a detailed description of the valorous activity. Please attach documentation such as in-depth reports, letters of reference, press releases/articles, nominee’s resume and nominee’s photograph. A candidate for the prestigious Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Dispatcher of the Year Award must be a full or part time employee, whose primary duties are dispatching calls for a sheriff’s office and local first responders. Only one dispatcher will receive the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Dispatcher of the Year Award each year. Past Winners: 2025: Communications Officers Kayleigh Jackson, Jonna Tuella, and Tommie Wiles, Smyth County 2024: Dispatch Supervisor Tammy Witt, Goochland County 2023: Chief Communications Officer Lieutenant Janie Jenkins, Rappahannock County 2022: Dispatcher Molly Rau, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office 2021: Chief Dispatcher Kaycee Kohlman, York-Poquoson-Williamsburg Emergency Communications Center 2020: Dispatcher Marcella Keene, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office
Please click HERE to review the VSA Awards Policy.
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