Loudoun County, VA- The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was honored to be recognized for two of the highest awards at the 86th Annual Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Conference on Thursday.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman accepted the 2019 Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) Highway Safety Award (Fairfax Region) on behalf of the agency. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was nominated by the Virginia DMV and recognized for our efforts in enforcement, public education, and community outreach for traffic safety in our area.
The nomination stems from the LCSO’s efforts to curb impaired driving through sobriety checkpoints, as well as our teenage driver education programs to educate our new drivers. The programs include brochures developed by the agency offering a checklist of what every driver should know before getting behind the wheel. These brochures are handed out to all new teenage drivers at the Loudoun County licensing ceremony held in Leesburg. This year’s award was presented by Deputy Commissioner George Bishop, Virginia DMV.
This is not the first time the LCSO has been recognized for the agency’s efforts in traffic safety and education. In 2014, the LCSO received the Governor’s Transportation Safety Award for Youth Traffic Safety in the Commonwealth of Virginia for a texting and driving campaign with Loudoun County Public Schools.
One of the highlights of the conference was the official recognition of Deputy First Class Colin Whittington as the 2019 Virginia Deputy of the Year. He received the outstanding deputy of the year award in recognition of his outstanding performance, unwavering passion and commitment, and problem-solving to improve the quality of life for citizens in Loudoun County.
“Deputy Whittington’s professional demeanor, enthusiastic attitude, integrity, and work ethic is an example of the highest level of professionalism of Virginia’s law enforcement personnel,” said Sheriff Chapman. “He is highly regarded by his peers and command staff which is reflective in his many accomplishments,” Sheriff Chapman added in his nomination letter to the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association.
DFC Whittington is the third deputy from the LCSO to receive this award in the past five years. Sgt. Dale Spurlock (Retired) was named Virginia Deputy of the Year in 2014 and Detective Tonmy Rodriguez received the award in 2016. The LCSO also received statewide recognition in 2014 when Detective Andrew Raughley was named the Virginia Crisis Intervention Team Deputy of the Year.
DFC Whittington joined the LCSO in 2015 as a patrol deputy. He has served as a Community Resource Deputy at the Ashburn Station and currently serves in the Media Relations and Communications Section as a Public Information Officer.
As part of his work in the Ashburn Station, DFC Whittington initiated an alcohol enforcement operation which involved extensive collaboration with command staff, restaurants, management, legal counsel, and the Virginia Department Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to deter disorderly conduct and alcohol offenses in a highly frequented business establishment. The incidents prior to this initiative included calls for service for assaults and numerous intoxicated persons. Due to his consistent problem-solving approach, this operation resulted in a significant decrease in arrests and has been well received by management and patrons.
Captain Dave Hibberd, the Ashburn Station Commander, said DFC Whittington, “is a model deputy, exemplifying the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office values of professionalism and outstanding services through community collaboration and aggressive problem solving”
DFC Whittington has also been recognized by the agency and the community for his outreach efforts and lifesaving actions. In 2017, Deputy Whittington was recognized at the 32nd Annual Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Valor Awards. At the awards ceremony, he received the Lifesaving Award for two separate rescue responses. On June 19, 2017, he was first to arrive at the home of a reported unconscious person, where he discovered a man lying on the kitchen floor. He quickly checked for a pulse but found none. DFC Whittington initiated CPR and the man regained a pulse and was later transported to the hospital by ambulance. It was exactly six months later when DFC Whittington responded to a call from a Chantilly home where one-year-old infant who had stopped breathing. He again was first on the scene and began to perform CPR. The child was resuscitated and was transported to an area hospital where the child’s pulse and breathing were maintained. Sadly, the child passed away several days later. DFC Whittington’s sound thinking and effective efforts provided the family several precious days to say goodbye.
Since joining the LCSO, DFC Whittington has been a common sight in Loudoun County. He has participated in numerous community events including the LCSO’s Annual Child Safety Day, Books-and-Badges, Coffee with a Cop and provided ride-a-longs to educate members of the community, including high profile Loudoun residents.
DFC Whittington lives in Ashburn with his wife Shelby, a Rock Ridge High School teacher, and their dog Mia.
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