NEWS RELEASE Contact: Chief Cynthia McAlister
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cmcalister@purcellvilleva.gov, 540-338-7422
PURCELLVILLE POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVE SAR AWARDS
PURCELLVILLE, Va., May 25, 2022 — At last night’s Purcellville Town Council meeting, Purcellville Police Department members, Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett received the Law Enforcement Commendation Award and Medal by the Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Rhett Wade of the SAR presented Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett the award, which is given to those who have served with distinction and devotion in the field of law enforcement. The medal recognizes exceptional service in law enforcement for those who perform beyond the scope of traditional law enforcement services.
Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett were recognized for an incident which began back in 2021, but has created a relationship which they both still continue today. In November 2021, the Purcellville Finance Department contacted the Police Department requesting a “check the welfare” of a resident. The water at this address had been turned off due to many unpaid water bills. It was assumed that the property was vacant after numerous unsuccessful contact attempts were made prior to the water shut off, until a neighbor paid the past-due notices and informed them the resident was in fact in the home. The water service was immediately restored, and Sergeant David Camp was dispatched to check on the resident’s wellbeing.
Upon contact, Sergeant Camp learned that the gentleman’s wife had passed away nearly two years earlier and that he had no other living friends or family. The resident was unaware of how to access his finances since his wife had handled these matters. This left him without many of the services needed to ensure one’s quality of life. In addition, due to his ailing health, he was essentially home-bound, and unable to walk more than a short distance, or drive a vehicle. Sergeant Camp immediately contacted the Loudoun County Adult Protective Services, and they worked together to schedule and provide the much needed services and nutritional needs for him. Sergeant Camp even used his own money to purchase groceries and help the resident with his personal necessities while awaiting the services to begin. This involvement by Sergeant Camp quickly evolved into a deep friendship.
Since Sergeant Camp was the usual daily contact with the elderly resident, he took the initiative to bring by other officers to meet and assist the gentleman. Officer Alexander Burkett was one of those officers, who quickly gained the gentleman’s trust and friendship. When Sergeant Camp was unable to call or visit him, Officer Burkett would ensure the elderly gentleman was getting needed nutrition and services, or just to engage in friendly conversation to help make his day.
During that winter, the gentlemen was admitted to the hospital for approximately one week. Sergeant Camp visited the man every day, even on his days off. Upon his release from the hospital and his admission into a rehabilitation center, Sergeant Camp continued his visits by stopping at his window and communicating by phone since visitors were not allowed inside for an additional three weeks. Due to the sudden hospitalization, the gentlemen was unable to gather his necessities. Sergeant Camp, without hesitation, used his own money to purchase needed clothing and toiletry items.
Upon his release, both Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett have continued their close contact with this gentleman to ensure he was receiving the necessary follow-up care and to assist him with needed daily and weekly household tasks. Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett, to this day, continue to ensure the trash is collected, put at the curb and return the receptacle to the house. Both Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett have even used their own funds to purchase needed groceries when public and private sources did not have what the elderly citizen needed to meet his dietary restrictions.
What started as a simple “welfare check” potentially was a life-saving event for this resident. Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett actions demonstrate the highest degree of commitment to our Department’s policing philosophy of community engagement and outreach. Their willingness to go above and beyond the “call of duty” and to directly engage a citizen in need with their kindness, generosity and compassion, reflects highly on themselves and their profession, the Purcellville Police Department, the citizens of the Town of Purcellville, and to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
We are honored that the Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution presented Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett with the Law Enforcement Commendation and Medal in recognition of their extraordinary service. Please join us in congratulating Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett for their outstanding service and award!
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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