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Hanover deputies honored with lifesaving awards; county designated Certified Crime Prevention Community
Summary
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police presented lifesaving awards and command-level certifications to multiple Hanover County deputy sheriffs; the Board adopted a proclamation designating Hanover a Certified Crime Prevention Community and named the Neighborhood Watch Coordinators Council to participate in the program.
The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police honored multiple Hanover County Sheriff's Office personnel for lifesaving actions during three separate incidents in 2024 and 2025 and recognized command-level professional certifications.
Dana Sherrard, executive director of the association, described one incident on June 15, 2024 involving an armed, incoherent subject who threatened family members; deputies used negotiation, restraint and ultimately a Taser to take the subject into custody without loss of life. Sherrard named the honorees: Deputy Charles Chenault (not present), Deputy Joel Cumber, Deputy Cody Disch, Deputy Paul Ronka, Sergeant James Birkenbra and Sergeant Van Jenkins and presented lifesaving awards.
Sherrard also described two other lifesaving responses: Deputy Troy Breeden's first-aid response to a November shooting victim and Deputy Joseph Gomes's actions extinguishing a vehicle fire on Dec. 12, 2024 to free drivers trapped in wrecked vehicles. The association presented each deputy with a 2025 lifesaving award and thanked Hanover's sheriff's office for its partnership in training and regional response.
After the awards, the Board approved a proclamation committing Hanover County to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services' Certified Crime Prevention Community Program. The proclamation notes the program's framework for institutionalizing local crime-prevention efforts and designates the Neighborhood Watch Coordinators Council to represent Hanover in the program; Deputy Bland was identified as a point person for implementation.
The board and presenters emphasized both recognition of individual acts and the county's ongoing partnership with state-level law enforcement organizations to support training and community safety programs. No formal vote counts beyond voice approval were recorded for the proclamation and awards acceptance.
