{"id":2423979,"date":"2025-04-15T20:08:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T00:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginias-safest-city-votes-to-dismantle-police-department-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T20:10:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T00:10:53","slug":"virginias-safest-city-votes-to-dismantle-police-department-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginias-safest-city-votes-to-dismantle-police-department-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia\u2019s \u2018safest city\u2019 votes to dismantle police department &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvirginias-safest-city-votes-to-dismantle-police-department-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2423979&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>in a surprising move, the town council of Purcellville, Virginia, has voted to dismantle its police department, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-condemns-despicable-actions-at-pro-palestinian-college-protests\/\" title=\"White House denounces &quot;despicable&quot; acts at pro-Palestinian college demonstrations\">prompting significant backlash<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-are-playing-with-our-lives-local-residents-lash-out-at-biden-cancelling-keystone-xl\/\" title=\"\u2018They Are Playing With Our Lives\u2019: Local ... Lash Out At Biden Cancelling Keystone XL\">local residents<\/a>. The council&#8217;s decision to eliminate the department, wich has been operational since 1908, was made without a public hearing, leading to a petition for recall against four council members, including Mayor Christopher Bertaut and Vice Mayor Carl Nett. Residents expressed thier outrage,feeling blindsided by the decision and concerned for public safety. The council members in favor of the move cited financial strain and overlapping services with the Loudoun county Sheriff\u2019s Office as justifications.Though,opponents raised concerns about the lack of openness and potential impacts on community safety. A final vote on the matter is scheduled for April 22, and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">local citizens remain active<\/a> in seeking to overturn the council&#8217;s decision.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Virginia&rsquo;s &lsquo;safest city&rsquo; votes to dismantle police department<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2076316\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Residents in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purcellvilleva.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"police department \">small Virginia town<\/a> launched a petition to recall <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purcellvilleva.gov\/524\/Mayor-and-Council-Members\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"four of its leaders\">four of its leaders<\/a> after they voted to eliminate the entire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/police-and-law-enforcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"police department \">police department <\/a>without warning.<\/p>\n<p>Purcellville Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Vice Mayor Carl Nett, and Council members Susan Khalil and Carol Luke are all targets of the recall effort.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3380814\/doj-charges-man-threatening-kill-tulsi-gabbard\/\">DOJ charges man for threatening to kill Tulsi Gabbard<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3380642\/desantis-defends-casey-desantis-against-claims-hope-florida-illegally-funded-political-causes\/\">DeSantis defends wife against claims Hope Florida illegally funded political causes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3380477\/new-mexico-man-charged-arson-vandalism-tesla-dealership-gop-headquarters\/\">New Mexico man charged with arson, vandalism at Tesla dealership and GOP headquarters<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flags play a big role in the Purcellville, Virginia, Fourth of July parades. (Paul Bedard)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Town residents have had problems with the Council before but said they were caught off guard when they voted 4-2 earlier this month to begin dismantling the police department, which has been in service since the town was created in 1908.<\/p>\n<p>A final vote is set for April 22.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This department is a continual drain on our town&rsquo;s financial resources, and it&rsquo;s time the hemorrhaging come to a stop,&rdquo; Khalil said before voting in favor of eliminating the 16-member police department, which has an annual budget of around $3 million.<\/p>\n<p>Councilwoman Erin Rayner, one of two holdouts, called the vote &ldquo;reckless and ignorant&rdquo; as it was taken without a public hearing.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Rayner&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcwashington.com\/news\/local\/northern-virginia\/virginia-town-council-eliminate-police-department\/3890658\/\" target=\"_blank\">told<\/a>&nbsp;NBC Washington that the leaders were in favor of dismantling the police department because they needed money <\/span>to lower water prices, a promise they ran on.<\/p>\n<p>Resident Christie Morgan showed up at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-equality-act-is-the-greatest-threat-to-religious-freedom-in-our-lifetime-we-must-stand-against-it\/\" title=\"The \u2018Equality Act\u2019 Is The Greatest Threat To Religious Freedom In Our Lifetime. We Must Stand Against It.\">town hall meeting<\/a> the day after the vote to give Council members a piece of her mind.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You are defunding the police that protect this town!&rdquo; Morgan yelled. &ldquo;No! I am not going to stop talking. This is ridiculous.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She later <a href=\"https:\/\/wjla.com\/news\/local\/purcellville-town-council-vote-eliminating-police-department-safety-purcellville-town-council-interim-police-chief-sara-lombraa-christopher-bertaut-loudoun-county\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> ABC7 that she was frustrated that the Council came to a decision with little to no transparency.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To see them throw out they&rsquo;re going to defund the police without any conversation with the minority Council members nor anybody in the public, they haven&rsquo;t spoken to anybody about this,&rdquo; Morgan said. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t make a decision like this, taking away this type of service to your town, without speaking to your constituents.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Justin Otley, one of the residents who signed the petition, echoed Morgan&rsquo;s sentiment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not OK with [dismantling the police department],&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;So we&rsquo;re going to try to make an impact.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Councilman Caleb Stought, who opposed the plan but was out of town for the initial vote, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dcnewsnow.com\/news\/local-news\/virginia\/loudoun-county\/purcellville-residents-petition-town-councils-decision-of-cutting-police-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> <em>DC News Now<\/em> that &ldquo;residents are furious, and rightfully so.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Purcellville Police Department recently received accolades and a reaccreditation from the Virginia Professional Standards Commission. Only about 25% of Virginia law enforcement agencies have earned the distinction. Purcellville was declared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purcellvilleva.gov\/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3043&amp;ARC=4163\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"the safest city\">the safest city<\/a> in Virginia last year.<\/p>\n<p>The three Council members who voted in favor of scrapping the force said there was overlap in services and that the Loudoun County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office, which already patrols the town, can afford to meet the town&rsquo;s needs.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They cover the off hours that cover 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. when a most serious crime is likely to occur,&rdquo; Bertaut said.<\/p>\n<p>Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said there had been preliminary talks about how his office could provide full-time services, but nothing was set in stone.<\/p>\n<p>Rayner argued that besides getting the go-ahead from Chapman, there are other factors to consider.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a leased facility with the contract,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We have leased vehicles, we have leased equipment. We have a lot of things that go into what makes a police department.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3372108\/illegal-immigrant-charged-virginia-man-murder-found-woman-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED WITH STABBING TO DEATH VIRGINIA MAN FOUND IN WOMAN&rsquo;S HOME<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Another twist in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elite-newspapers-hide-ivy-league-sex-scandal-over-transgender-swimmer\/\" title=\"Elite Newspapers Hide Ivy League Sex Scandal Over Transgender Swimmer\">small-town scandal<\/a> is Nett used to be a Purcellville police officer but was fired. He then voted in support of eliminating the department.<\/p>\n<p>Calls to Council members and the mayor were not returned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2076316\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2076316\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia&#8217;s &#8216;safest city&#8217; votes to disband police; recall petition launched against leaders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2423980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/img-1583-1024x684.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[11162,44803,52785,5468,32076],"class_list":["post-2423979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dismantle","tag-police-department","tag-safest-city","tag-virginia","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/img-1583-1024x684.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2423979"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2423983,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2423979\/revisions\/2423983"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2423980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2423979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2423979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2423979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}