Bill Text: VA HJR231 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Commending the Virginia Department of State Police.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 54-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-03-02 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ231ER) [HJR231 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2020-HJR231-Enrolled.html

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 231
Commending the Virginia Department of State Police.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2020
Agreed to by the Senate, March 2, 2020
 

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of State Police demonstrated a high degree of vigilance, dedication to duty, and professionalism while responding to extraordinary crowds during a gun rights rally on January 20, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of State Police coordinated with other local, state, and federal agencies to monitor critical intelligence in weeks prior and implemented additional security measures for the event; and

WHEREAS, in the lead-up to the event, members of the Virginia Department of State Police devoted long hours and made personal sacrifices to ensure safety and security in and around Capitol Square; and

WHEREAS, the event had an estimated attendance of 22,000 people, including approximately 6,000 people inside Capitol Square, which had been designated as a gun-free area, and 16,000 people in the surrounding area, many of whom were armed; and

WHEREAS, in addition to manning security checkpoints for Capitol Square, the Virginia Department of State Police and other agencies maintained effective crowd control through temporary fencing and road closures and increased the law-enforcement presence in and around state office buildings to minimize disruptions for state employees; and

WHEREAS, the officers of the Virginia Department of State Police helped mitigate a potentially volatile situation through extensive planning and careful preparation; and

WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly and the state agencies in and around Capitol Square sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the officers of the Virginia Department of State Police as they fulfill their duties to serve and protect the residents of and visitors to the Commonwealth every day; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Department of State Police for performance above and beyond the normal call of duty on January 20, 2020; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Gary T. Settle, superintendent of the Virginia Department of State Police, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the department's enduring commitment to keeping Virginians safe.

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