ALEXANDRIA, VA–Twenty-one new law enforcement officers – 11 police officers and 10 deputy sheriffs – graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy on June 20. Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Chief Michael L. Brown, and members of their command and training staffs attended Session 138’s graduation ceremony at George Mason University.
All 21 successfully completed 20 weeks of training, including emergency vehicle operations, firearms training, defensive tactics, crash investigation, basic legal training, and other important areas, and deputies completed four additional weeks of training in jail and courthouse procedures.
Ceremony highlights included Deputy Marissa McElveen receiving the award for highest physical fitness score among female recruits, Officer Neale Marquez earning the second highest score in physical fitness among male recruits, and Officer Michael Raines achieving the second highest score in firearms training. Deputy Matthew Vance sang the national anthem and Officer Marquez and Officer Raines were both part of Session 138’s Joint Honor Guard that presented the colors.
The Academy serves 17 participating law enforcement agencies: the Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, City of Fairfax Police Department, City of Falls Church Police Department, City of Falls Church Sheriff’s Office, George Mason University Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Manassas City Police Department, Manassas Park City Police Department, Middleburg Police Department, Northern Virginia Community College Police, Purcellville Police Department, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Police and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
