NEWS RELEASE Contact: Chief Cynthia McAlister
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cmcaslister@purcellvilleva.gov
PURCELLVILLE POLICE OFFICER RITTER RECEIVES VFW AWARD
PURCELLVILLE, Va., April 7, 2022 — The Purcellville Police Department is pleased to announce that Officer Lauren Ritter was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation last night during the VFW awards ceremony. Officer Ritter was presented the award by Mr. Stephen Hood and Commander Ray Delpesche of the Loudoun County Post 1177 of Veterans of Foreign Wars. The citation is given to a law enforcement individual who shows consistent excellence in the performance of their duties, as well as continuous dedication and growth in their official responsibilities and skills within their profession.
Officer Ritter was chosen for her commitment to both the community and her fellow officers. Officer Ritter is known for her proactive policing, as well as her continuous engagement with both residents and businesses alike. After studying at George Mason University with a double major in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, Officer Ritter was hired by the Purcellville Police Department. Officer Ritter then graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJTA) in June 2019 and became a solo patrol officer in October 2019. Despite her short tenure, Officer Ritter has proven herself as a dedicated member of the Department and to the Town of Purcellville. Officer Ritter recently completed the Field Training Officer certification program, enabling her to train and mentor the Department’s new recruits upon graduation from the NVCJTA. In addition, Officer Ritter was selected by her peers for the coveted “Officer of the Year” award for 2021, and is the officer with the shortest tenure with the Department to have been selected for this award.
Officer Ritter is able to balance both enforcement, often leading the Department with proactive DUI arrests along with continuous traffic enforcement and education, with that of community involvement. Officer Ritter is very popular in the local neighborhoods, especially among our younger residents. She has received (and accepted) birthday party invitations to help celebrate some of the children she interacts regularly with while on patrol. She is often found giving out free Slurpee coupons during “Operation Chill” in the summer to kids “caught” doing good deeds, as well as providing fishing tips to local youth, handing out Halloween candy at local trunk or treats, and is always one of the first to sign up to participate in the Fraternal Order of Police’s “Shop with Kids” during the holidays. While she enjoys the friendlier side of community policing, Officer Ritter is always willing to go above and beyond while handling traditional calls for service and assisting Purcellville residents in matters both big and small. Her dedication to the community is only matched by her commitment to her fellow Department members, always a consummate team member willing to help out in any way.
Officer Ritter is the epitome of a community engaged public servant, dedicated mentor, and respected team player. Please join us in congratulating Officer Lauren Ritter as a recipient of the VFW Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation.
Officer Lauren Ritter presented the VFW Law Enforcement Public Service Citation by
Commander Ray Delpesche with the Loudoun County Post 1177 of the VFW
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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