Bill Text: VA SJR202 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Division of Capitol Police, the Virginia Department of State Police.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-5)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-03 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ202ER) [SJR202 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SJR202-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Division of Capitol Police, the Virginia Department of State Police, the Richmond Police Department, and the Department of General Services demonstrated a high degree of vigilance, dedication to duty, and professionalism while coordinating a Unified Command responding to the extraordinary crowd of participants at the Second Amendment rally on January 20, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Capitol Police coordinated with local, state, and national agencies to monitor critical intelligence in weeks prior, and to implement additional security measures to ensure safety and security in and around Capitol Square; and
WHEREAS, the event had an estimated attendance of 22,000 people, including 6,000 within Capitol Square and 16,000 in the surrounding area; and
WHEREAS, in addition to manning security checkpoints for Capitol Square, the Division of Capitol Police and other agencies maintained effective crowd control through temporary fencing, road closures, and increased law-enforcement presence in and around state office buildings to minimize disruption to state employees; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Unified Command helped mitigate a potentially volatile situation through extensive planning, careful preparation, and coordinated communications; and
WHEREAS, they were assisted in their endeavors by other first responders including the Richmond Fire Department, the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Virginia Commonwealth University Police, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety, the Henrico County Police Division, the Henrico County Division of Fire, the Chesterfield County Police Department, and the Virginia Department of Corrections; and
WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly and the state agencies in and around the Capitol Complex sincerely appreciate the hard work, dedication, and professionalism demonstrated by the members of the Division of Capitol Police, the Virginia Department of State Police, the Richmond Police Department, the Department of General Services, and their many partners on the response team as they maintained order, security, and overall smooth operations during this event and in the daily execution of their duties; now, therefore, be it
RESOVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Division of Capitol Police, the Virginia Department of State Police, the Richmond Police Department, the Department of General Services, and the many other support units of the Unified Command for performance above and beyond the normal call of duty on January 20, 2020; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Colonel Anthony S. Pike, Chief of the Division of Capitol Police; Colonel Gary Settle, Superintendent of the Department of State Police; Chief William Smith, Chief of the Richmond Police Department; Joe Damico, Director of the Department of General Services; and each support unit of the Unified Command as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for their enduring commitment to keeping Virginians safe every day.
