PE Sheriff Reed Part Of Review Panel
Published 11:46 am Thursday, June 18, 2015
PRINCE EDWARD — Sheriff Wesley Reed was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to serve on an Expert Review Panel with representatives of local and campus law enforcement agencies and sheriff’s offices, commonwealth’s attorneys, the governor’s policy advisor on law enforcement for ABC, the Chief Operating Office of the ABC, the director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services and other individuals representing relevant stakeholder groups. The panel will assist with improving the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control Initiative. Under an executive order signed by McAuliffe, the selected panel was asked review concerns about ABC law enforcement that came to light from an ABC arrest in Charlottesville in which a student was injured. The State Police was also ordered by McAuliffe to conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Sheriff Reed and other law enforcement representatives appointed by the governor were asked take steps to review broader concerns about ABC law enforcement by reviewing the components of Executive Order 40 which seeks to: *Require more training for all ABC special agents in the areas on; use of force, cultural diversity, effective interaction with youth and young adults, and community policing. *Improve accountability and oversight by requiring that the ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement will now report to the chief operating officer of the ABC, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of all agency functions. *Examine the need for additional steps by directing the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene an expert review panel to report to the governor on the agency’s mission, structure, policies and training and make recommendations regarding any identified changes needed. *Improve cooperation and communication with local communities and Virginia colleges and universities by directing the ABC to engage with communities that are home to state institutions of higher education about its enforcement role in each locality. The ABC will update or enter into agreements that delineate an agreed-upon enforcement role for the ABC that is in cooperation with each community’s law enforcement approach. Sheriff Reed stated that it was an honor to be asked by the governor to sit on the panel.