Bill Text: VA SR264 | 2025 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Harold Heatley.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2025-02-20 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR264ER) [SR264 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-SR264-Enrolled.html
2025 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 264
Commending Harold Heatley.
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2025
WHEREAS, Harold Heatley, a distinguished police officer with more than 40 years of experience spanning military service, private security work, and two law-enforcement agencies, retired as the chief deputy of the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office in 2024; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 1981, Harold Heatley served the nation as a member of the United States Navy for two decades, rising to the rank of chief petty officer; and
WHEREAS, Harold Heatley trained as a master-at-arms at Fort McClellan in Alabama, then served as a military police officer in Alaska and the Philippines; was stationed aboard the USS Tuscaloosa, USS Constellation, USS Bristol County, and the USS Oldendorf; and finished his career as chief master-at-arms on Naval Air Station Coronado in California; and
WHEREAS, after his honorable military service, Harold Heatley joined the private security firm Excel Security as a field supervisor in 2001; he rose through the ranks to become vice president of operations, overseeing more than 180 employees; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, Harold Heatley moved to Tazewell County with his family and joined the Tazewell Police Department as a patrol officer; he was later promoted to night shift patrol sergeant; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in 2007, he attended instructor school later that year, then began teaching impaired driving detection courses; he was also certified as a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor and trained thousands of students across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Harold Heatley was hired by the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office in 2010 and served as an undercover narcotics detective until January 2012, when he was promoted to chief deputy; and
WHEREAS, Harold Heatley helped nonviolent offenders seek treatment through the Tazewell County Drug Treatment Court for eight years, was a member of a special task force with the United States Marshals Service for six years, and participated in a news program that resulted in the capture of more than 900 criminals in Virginia and West Virginia over the course of eight and a half years; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career, Harold Heatley has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Jeannie, and his sons, George, Daniel, John, and Jason, and he looks forward to spending more time with his beloved family and seeking new opportunities to serve his community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Harold Heatley hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement from the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Harold Heatley as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his outstanding career in law enforcement and legacy of service to the residents of Tazewell County.
