NEWS RELEASE Contact: Chief Cynthia McAlister
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cmcaslister@purcellvilleva.gov
PURCELLVILLE POLICE JOINS REGIONAL CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM
PURCELLVILLE, Va., January 13, 2020 — The Purcellville Police Department is pleased to announce their participation in the newly created Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). The CIRT was created by the Northern Virginia Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Committee with the purpose to investigate critical incidents involving law enforcement officers within the cooperating jurisdictions. Last night, the Purcellville Town Council formally approved the CIRT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Town Council meeting.
Below is additional information from the official Regional CIRT press release:
The team is comprised of seasoned criminal detectives, crime scene technicians, and commanders from 11 participating agencies. The Chief Executive Officer of each participating agency in Northern Virginia will have the option of calling upon this multi-jurisdictional team to investigate incidents within their localities. These incidents include but are not limited to; law enforcement involved shootings, any action taken by law enforcement which results in the death or a life-threatening injury of a person in the performance of an officer/deputy’s duties, in custody deaths, and law enforcement officer suicides.
At the completion of a comprehensive, thorough, and impartial investigation, the Critical Incident Response Team will present the facts and evidence of the investigation to the local Commonwealth Attorney’s Office or designated prosecuting authority. The agency where the incident occurred will continue to conduct their own separate administrative investigation.
The creation of this multi-jurisdictional team will provide an efficient, effective, and a standardized investigation of these high-profile events. The multi-jurisdictional team of tenured detectives also provides a higher degree of impartiality in these types of investigations as the team members are not solely reviewing their own peer officers’ actions; the mere make-up of the team ensures checks and balances throughout the entire investigative process.
The Critical Incident Response Team was created in accordance with VA Code 15/2-1726 Agreements for consolidation of police departments or for cooperation in furnishing police services and VA Code 15/2-1736 Mutual aid agreements among governing bodies of localities.
As Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, it is imperative that we serve our communities with the highest standards of professionalism, openness, and always seek justice for all people under any circumstances. Our professional law enforcement organizations are committed to the safety and security of our communities, and understand that the confidence and support of each department is dependent on maintaining the continued trust of our citizens.
Additional participating law enforcement agencies include: Arlington County Police Department, Fairfax City Police Department, Falls Church Police Department, Herndon Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Manassas Park Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, Prince Williams County Police Department, and Vienna Police Department.
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of over 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 13th year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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