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Deputy Ashley Battle Named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

(l-r) Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Captain Lynn Oliver, Alexandria American Legion Post 24 Commander Henry Dorton, Deputy Ashley Battle, Chief Deputy Candra Callicott, and Sergeant Gregory Perez. (Photo: Alexandria Sheriff’s Office)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Alexandria American Legion Post 24 recently honored Deputy Ashley Battle with its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.

During the ceremony on March 11, Post Commander Henry Dorton presented Deputy Battle with the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in recognition of her outstanding performance, community relations efforts, and commitment to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office.

Commander Dorton also presented Deputy Battle with a letter of congratulations from Senator Tim Kaine and a certificate from Mayor Justin Wilson. Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, several of Deputy Battle’s commanders and supervisors, and members of her family attended the ceremony and were proud to see her recognized.

Deputy Battle thanked Post 24 for the honor and she also expressed her appreciation for those who have supported and encouraged her, including her family, Sheriff Lawhorne, and her colleagues, supervisors and commanders, like Captain Lynn Oliver who has mentored her.

Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2016, Deputy Battle has excelled in her official duties and eagerly volunteered to do more, both for the Office and in the Alexandria community.

Battle Gives it Her All

In 2018, while working in her regular assignment in the detention center, Deputy Battle helped to save an inmate’s life. She is a member of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team and a Project Lifesaver Technician, she serves on the Sheriff’s Employee Advisory Committee, and she regularly volunteers for community relations work.

In addition to spending her personal time engaged in outreach work, Deputy Battle has also participated in National Night Out, First Thursday, and other community events for the Sheriff’s Office. Finally, she is a member of the Alexandria Crisis Intervention Team and uses her skills to recognize and assist when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.

In addition to honoring Deputy Battle, Alexandria American Legion Post 24 presented two other public safety officers with awards. The Sheriff’s Office extends its congratulations to Firefighter-Paramedic David Fox of the Alexandria Fire Department and Senior Conservation Police Officer Richard Landers of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

MORE: Alexandria Deputies Graduate from Criminal Justice Academy

Mary Wadland

Mary Wadland is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Zebra Press, founded by her in 2010. Originally from Delray Beach, Florida, Mary is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, VA and has lived and worked in the Alexandria publishing community since 1987.

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