Police Chief Smith Announces Retirement in Purcellville

Release, Town of Purcellville:

Chief Darryl C. Smith, Sr. announced last week that he would be retiring on April 1, 2015. He came to the community over nine years ago after a nationwide search that resulted in him being selected as a unanimous candidate to lead our Town’s Police Department. Chief Smith will be remembered for many positive items through his tenure. The two most important involve completing the State Accreditation for the Police Department and the winning of numerous local, state, national and international awards for his Department’s Youth Engagement and Outreach programs.

In 2007, Chief Smith and the Department won a VML Achievement Award in the 5,000 – 10,000 population category for his Youth Engagement and Outreach programs. This award was followed up in 2009 with the Department receiving the Webber Seavey International Award given by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Motorola.

During Chief Smith’s tenure with the Town, he presided over a period of rapid growth in our residential and business communities. This rapid growth coupled with an extensive recession that hit not only our community but the region resulted in a period where the Department had to be extremely creative to find ways to address a needed expansion to the police station which allowed the Town to meet program needs and state recommendations/regulations. In addition, he worked hard to update the entire fleet of vehicles and equipment issued to all officers while implementing a progressive staffing model.

“The Town was blessed when we were able to hire Chief Smith over nine years ago. It is rare that someone can have such a positive impact on an organization and community that he has served in such a short period.” stated Robert W. Lohr, Jr., Town Manager. The Town Manager also stated “to Chief Smith, this was not just a job but a love and a passion for the community and his officers. In a period where administrators tend to spend too much time behind their desk, he was constantly in the community working with our youth, residents and businesses. Chief Smith will be greatly missed and will leave some mighty big shoes to fill in this Department and on our management team.”

Mayor Fraser added “Chief Smith’s leadership has transformed the Purcellville Police Department into the community focused organization it is today. Programs such as the Homework Club, Back to School Picnic, and End of School Picnic were led by Chief Smith and have been instrumental in connecting our young people and their families to our police force in a meaningful way. While I do not have a tremendous amount time working with Chief Smith, it has been my observation that he is a dedicated public servant and has worked tirelessly to secure our citizens and garner community trust. Chief Smith has provided us with a template as to what traits and capabilities we must expect and require from a new police chief. I thank Chief Smith for his service to our community and wish him and his family all the best during his retirement.”