HJ5185: Commending Dennis S. Proffitt.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5185
Commending Dennis S. Proffitt.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, September 18, 2014
Agreed to by the Senate, September 18, 2014

 

WHEREAS, on February 1, 2014, Dennis S. Proffitt, a dedicated law-enforcement officer and a respected leader in the community, retired as the Sheriff of Chesterfield County after a distinguished 43-year career; and

WHEREAS, beginning his career as a dispatcher for the Counties of Chesterfield and Henrico, Dennis Proffitt graduated from the Chesterfield County Police Academy and became a patrolman with the Chesterfield County Police Department in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt was quickly promoted to detective in the vice and narcotics unit; he served as the first undercover officer in the history of the department and earned the Police Officer of the Year award in 1979; and

WHEREAS, in 1989, Dennis Proffitt was promoted to sergeant then to lieutenant; he supported innovative strategies for conducting narcotics investigations and served on the department’s first SWAT team; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt continued to rise through the ranks, becoming inspector in charge of special investigations in 1996 and captain in charge of criminal investigations in 1997; after joining the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office in 1997, he was promoted to undersheriff in 1999 and elected sheriff in 2007 and again in 2011; and

WHEREAS, safeguarding the community in a variety of ways as sheriff, Dennis Proffitt developed comprehensive security programs for county elected officials, enhanced security at jails and courts, and increased the department’s ability to respond to crises and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt saved taxpayer money by supporting inmate workforce programs that provided grounds maintenance and litter control on county property, and he increased the operational efficiency of county jails by implementing other innovative programs; and

WHEREAS, as a passionate advocate for his employees, Dennis Proffitt invested in the highest quality training and career development programs; during his tenure as sheriff, the department maintained full compliance with the Virginia Board of Corrections standards and full accreditation with the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt worked to enhance the community by supporting hunters’ safety training, Special Olympics events, Seniors-in-Touch, TRIAD, and Project Lifesaver; he remains an active volunteer with the Rotary Club of South Richmond; and

WHEREAS, deeply committed to public safety and the well-being of the residents of Chesterfield County, Dennis Proffitt is an exemplar of the professionalism and dedication shown by law-enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth; his son, Dennis, Jr., has followed in his footsteps and serves as a sergeant with the Chesterfield County Police Department; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Dennis S. Proffitt for over four decades of diligent service as a law-enforcement officer on the occasion of his retirement as Sheriff of Chesterfield County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dennis S. Proffitt as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his outstanding contributions to Chesterfield County and the Commonwealth and best wishes on a happy retirement.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5185

Offered September 10, 2014
Commending Dennis S. Proffitt.
Patron-- Cox

WHEREAS, on February 1, 2014, Dennis S. Proffitt, a dedicated law-enforcement officer and a respected leader in the community, retired as the sheriff of Chesterfield County after a distinguished 43-year career; and

WHEREAS, beginning his career as a dispatcher for the Counties of Chesterfield and Henrico, Dennis Proffitt graduated from the Chesterfield County Police Academy and became a patrolman with the Chesterfield County Police Department in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt was quickly promoted to detective in the vice and narcotics unit; he served as the first undercover officer in the history of the department and earned the Police Officer of the Year award in 1979; and

WHEREAS, in 1989, Dennis Proffitt was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant; he supported innovative strategies for conducting narcotics investigations and served on the department’s first SWAT team; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt continued to rise through the ranks, becoming inspector in charge of special investigations in 1996 and captain in charge of criminal investigations in 1997; after joining the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office in 1997, he was promoted to undersheriff in 1999 and elected sheriff in 2007 and again in 2011; and

WHEREAS, safeguarding the community in a variety of ways as sheriff, Dennis Proffitt developed comprehensive security programs for county elected officials, enhanced security at jails and courts, and increased the department’s ability to respond to crises and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt saved taxpayer money by supporting inmate workforce programs that provided grounds maintenance and litter control on county property, and he increased the operational efficiency of county jails by implementing other innovative programs; and

WHEREAS, as a passionate advocate for his employees, Dennis Proffitt invested in the highest quality training and career development programs; during his tenure as sheriff, the department maintained full compliance with Virginia Board of Corrections standards and full accreditation with the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Proffitt worked to enhance the community by supporting hunters’ safety training, Special Olympics events, Seniors-in-Touch, TRIAD, and Project Lifesaver; he remains an active volunteer with the Rotary Club of South Richmond; and

WHEREAS, deeply committed to public safety and the well-being of the residents of Chesterfield County, Dennis Proffitt is an exemplar of the professionalism and dedication shown by law-enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth; his son, Dennis, Jr., has followed in his footsteps and serves as a sergeant with the Chesterfield County Police Department; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Dennis S. Proffitt for over four decades of diligent service as a law-enforcement officer on the occasion of his retirement as sheriff of Chesterfield County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dennis S. Proffitt as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his outstanding contributions to Chesterfield County and the Commonwealth and best wishes on a happy retirement.