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Virginia Sheriffs' Institute
Supporting Virginia’s Sheriffs & Deputies

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute is pleased to announce the 2021 class of the VSI Certification Program. This program promotes, recognizes and elevates the continued individual professional development of Virginia’s sheriffs and deputies. Sheriffs and deputies serving in the Commonwealth of Virginia carry immense responsibilities as the guardians of their communities, providing effective public safety services balanced with the fair and equitable treatment of every individual they encounter.

“I offer my congratulations to the men and women who have completed this voluntary certification program,” said Sheriff James E. Brown, III, City of Charlottesville, VSIC, President, Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute. “Each member of this year’s class has dedicated themselves to completing this program, in light of various challenges, especially the continued challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their dedication to professional development is to be admired, continuing to show the utmost professionalism and commitment to providing necessary confidence in the public safety function.”

Members of the 2021 class include:

  • Colonel/Undersheriff W. Clayton Bennett, Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office
  • 2nd Lieutenant Julian Berger, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sergeant Christina Burroughs, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sergeant James Goens, City of Roanoke Sheriff’s Office
  • Chief Deputy Laura Hopkins, Martinsville Sheriff’s Office
  • Sergeant Nancy Johnson, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Major Tara Johnson, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office
  • Detective Nikki King, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Investigator Daniel Maxfield, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Captain Tony McFaddin, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sheriff Robert Mosier, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sheriff James O’Sullivan, Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office
  • Lt. Col. Eric Prugh, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sergeant Daniel Selby, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
  • Investigator Philip Siegle, Amelia County Sheriff’s Office
  • Sheriff Donald Simpson, Appomattox County Sheriff’s Office
  • Detective Elissa Wilk, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office

The VSI Certification Program was developed by the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute (VSI) in cooperation with the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA), the Performance Management Group at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation (VCPI).

VSI will recognize and present participants of this 2021 class a certificate of completion at its spring conference in April.

For more information, click HERE.