Fairfax County Police Department issued the following announcement on Aug. 2
The Fairfax County Police Department announced a series of command staff promotions on Monday, including the naming of two Deputy Chiefs and seven Majors. These highly-qualified leaders have served throughout the department and are well prepared to take on the difficult job of reducing crime and improving our relationships with communities. These promotions were also made with an eye on diversity, as three of the seven (43 percent) of the Major positions are either female or minority police officers.
Chief of Police Kevin Davis further reinforced this commitment to diversity by signing the 30×30 Initiative, which aims to increase representation of women in Fairfax County’s police recruit classes to 30 percent by 2030. Approximately 16.5 percent of FCPD’s sworn officers are now female, which is ahead of the national average of 12 percent.
“The diversity within Fairfax County ought to be reflected in its police department,” Davis said. “For any organization to be successful, a variety of voices must be on hand to make important decisions. I am proud of this latest promotional class, and I look forward to accomplishing great things together.”
The promotions are as follows:
Robert A. Blakley has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Patrol. Deputy Chief Blakley previously served as the Major of Patrol Bureau II. He joined the Fairfax County Police Department in 2002. He has also served as the Major of the Resource Management Bureau and as the Commander of the Traffic Division. Deputy Chief Blakley has a master’s degree from George Mason University and is a veteran of the Marine Corps. He completed the Professional Executive Leadership School through the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police at the University of Richmond and Leadership Fairfax. He previously served on the National Highway Safety Committee and is a Certified National Instructor for the Leadership in Police Organizations curriculum by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He has also served on a Type III Incident Management Team, capable of deploying and managing large-scale incidents throughout the U.S. and overseas.
J. Dean Lay has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Investigations and Operations Support Bureau. Deputy Chief Lay previously served as the Major, Director of the Internal Affairs Bureau. He began his career with the Fairfax County Police Department in 1993. He has also served as the Major of Patrol Bureau III and as the Commander of the Sully District Station. Deputy Chief Lay has a master’s degree from Liberty University and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He completed the Professional Executive Leadership School through the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police at the University of Richmond; the Senior Management Institute from the Police Executive Research Forum; Strategic Management for 21st Century Policing from the Southern Police Institute; Executive Law Enforcement and Communities of Color from the International Association of Chiefs of Police; and the Executive Conference on Community Relations from the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Darrell E. Nichols has been promoted to Major of the Planning and Research Bureau. Major Nichols currently serves as the Equity Lead for One Fairfax. He began his career as a Fairfax County police officer in 1992. He has also served as the Staff Duty Officer for the Patrol Bureau and as Commander of the COVID-19 Emergency Bureau. Major Nichols has a master’s degree from American Military University. He completed the West Point Leadership Course and Leadership in Police Organizations curriculum through the Criminal Justice Academy. He is enrolled in the Executive Leadership Initiatives: Partnerships for Community Trust through The Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance and the Metro DC Racial Equity Learning Cohort by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council on Governments.
Dalton Becker has been promoted to Major of the Operations Support Bureau. Major Becker previously served as the Commander of the McLean District Station. He began his career as a police cadet in 1996 and became a police officer in 1998. He has also served as the Staff Duty Officer in the Patrol Bureau and as the Assistant Commander of the Special Operations Division. Major Becker has a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. He completed the West Point Leadership Course and Leadership in Police Organizations curriculum through the Criminal Justice Academy.
Brooke D. Wright has been promoted to Major, Director of the Criminal Justice Academy. Major Wright previously served as the Commander of the Mason District Station. She began her career with the Fairfax County Police Department as a 9-1-1 call taker in 1998 and then began the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy in 1999. She has also served as the Assistant Commander of the Mason District Station and as the Police Liaison Commander at the Department of Public Safety Communications. Major Wright has a bachelor’s degree from Bluefield College and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She completed the Professional Executive Leadership School through the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police at the University of Richmond; the Women’s Leadership Institute through the International Association of Chiefs of Police; and Leadership Fairfax.
Todd W. Billeb has been promoted to Major, Director of the Internal Affairs Bureau. Major Billeb previously served as the Commander of Investigations for the Internal Affairs Bureau. He began his career as a Fairfax County police officer in 1999. He has also served as the Commander and Assistant Commander of the Sully District Station. Billeb has a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and is a veteran of the Marine Corps. and served with the Secret Service. He completed Leadership Fairfax and the Command Officers Development Course from the Southern Police Institute.
Thea M. Pirnat has been promoted to Major of the Resource Management Bureau. Major Pirnat previously served as the Commander of the Reston District Station. She began her career with the Fairfax County Police Department in 2000. She has also served as a Division Commander and an Assistant Commander in the Major Crimes Bureau. Major Pirnat has a master’s degree from George Mason University. She completed the Women’s Leadership Institute through the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Leadership in Police Organizations curriculum through the Criminal Justice Academy.
Brian M. Ruck has been promoted to Major of the Administrative Support Bureau. Major Ruck previously served as the Commander of the Mount Vernon District Station. He began his career with the Fairfax County Police Department in 1998. He has also served as the Staff Duty Officer for the Patrol Bureau and as the Assistant Commander of the Franconia District Station. Major Ruck has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism through the University of Maryland; Counterterrorism, Prevention and Response at the Advanced Security Institute in Israel; the Police Response To Suicide and Vehicle-Born Bombing Incidents at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; and the Leadership in Police Organizations curriculum through the Criminal Justice Academy.
Gregory R. Fried has been promoted to Major of Patrol Bureau IV. Major Fried previously served as the Commander of the Franconia District Station. He began his career as a Fairfax County police officer in 2004. He has also served as the Assistant Commander of the Franconia District Station and as the Patrol Bureau Aid. Major Fried has a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University. He completed the Professional Leadership School through the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police at Richmond University; Leadership Fairfax; and the Fairfax Middle Managers Roundtable Training.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up