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VPCF Mourns the Passing of Lex Eckenrode

Lex T. Eckenrode, Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation, passed away peacefully August 2 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Lex dedicated nearly 40 years to the law enforcement profession in Virginia.  After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1970 with a degree in Criminal Justice, in 1970, Lex began working at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, first as a field representative, then as division director of Law Enforcement Standards and Training, and finally as deputy director of the Bureau of Operations.  He retired from the department in 1999. 

From 1999 until his death, Lex served as the chief executive officer of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation (VPCF), a charitable and educational foundation that provides leadership education and law-enforcement training. As CEO, he managed all aspects of the foundation, including day-to-day operations, education and training courses, development and fundraising, PR, financial operations, and staff. 

During his career, Lex received numerous awards and recognition.  Of note, in August 2007, Lex received the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police President’s Award, the association’s highest honor, in recognition of his leadership and dedicated service to law enforcement.  In March 2008, Lex was inducted as an honorary member of the Roanoke County Police Department, with all the responsibilities that the title Police Officer incurs.  In the history of the department, Lex was the only person who had demonstrated the professional competence and acquired the respect necessary to be inducted as an honorary member. In March 2009, graduates of the 24th session PELS established the Lex T. Eckenrode Scholarship for PELS to honor the legacy that Lex created through his leadership vision and values.

Though he will be sorely missed, Lex Eckenrode’s professional and personal legacy live on. Memorial donations may be made to the Lex T. Eckenrode Scholarship for PELS, a scholarship established in his name to honor the legacy that Lex created through his leadership vision and values. The scholarship is available to law-enforcement officers who qualify for and attend the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation’s Professional Executive Leadership School.  Memorial donations may be sent to:  The Lex T. Eckenrode Scholarship Fund, Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134, Richmond, VA  23288.

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2009 VACP/VPCF Awards for Valor, Lifesaving, and Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement & VACP Presidents Award

Each year, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation honor Virginia law-enforcement officers and individuals with our highest awards.  The awards were presented during the VACP/VPCF annual conference August 9-12, 2009, at the Marriott City Center in Newport News, Virginia.

The recipients of the 2009 VACP/VPCF Awards are listed below. Seven officers received the Award for Valor, and 21 officers received the 2009 Lifesaving Award. One award was presented for the 2009 Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement.

Valor Awards

The Valor Award recognizes a law-enforcement officer who, in the line of duty, performs an act of extraordinary heroism at imminent personal risk, while engaged with an adversary.  The 2009 Awards for Valor were presented to:

  • Police Officer Sean M. Fleming of the Chesapeake Police Department
  • Police Officer Joe Young of the Fredericksburg Police Department
  • Senior Police Officer Christopher L. Munger of the Hampton Police Division
  • Police Officer Victor E. Decker of the Norfolk Police Department
  • Police Officer Daniel Awad of the Richmond Police Department
  • Police Officer Eli C. Kendrick of the Virginia Beach Police Department
  • Master Police Officer Christian K. Wright of the Virginia Beach Police Department

To read more, please click here to be directed to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police website to view the entire article.

 

Lifesaving Awards

The Lifesaving Award recognizes an officer’s actions that put the officer in harm’s way while attempting to save the life of another individual.  The awards were announced during the VACP/VPCF Annual Conference on August 11 and were given to the recipients’ agency administrators to be presented in ceremonies at the officers’ agencies. The Recipients of the 2009 Lifesaving Award are:

  • Officer Jeetphal Panesar of the Alexandria Police Department
  • Officer Anthony W. Kelly of the Chesapeake Police Department
  • Officer Nathan T. Almond of the Chesterfield County Police Department
  • Officer Travis W. VonCanon of the Henrico County Division of Police
  • Detective Donald E. Reid of the Hopewell Division of Police
  • Sergeant Mark A. Cook, Sergeant Earl D. McNair, and Master Police Officer Douglas W. Bush, all of the Newport News Police Department
  • Sergeant Daniel M. Butler and Master Police Officer John T. Hughes of the Newport News Police Department
  • Officer Cottrell Derrick and Officer Jessica Tacha of the Prince William County Police Department.
  • Sergeant Andrew Szerkoman, Corporal Jarrett Rhodes, and Officer Jason Tickle of the Radford Department of Police
  • Officer Lemmie Sanders of the Radford Department of Police
  • Officer Robert Sturdevant of the Richmond Police Department
  • Officer Andrea D. Morris of the Roanoke County Police Department
  • Master Police Officer Dana W. Johnson of the Virginia Beach Police Department
  • Trooper Christopher Flaherty of the Virginia State Police
  • Trooper Kurt J. Johnson of the Virginia State Police

To read more, please click here to be directed to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police website to view the entire article.

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement is presented in recognition of an individual's conspicuous act or achievement in the performance of some duty that results in an exceptional and responsible contribution to law enforcement. 

  • This year the award was presented to the Honorable Robert F. Horan, Retired Commonwealth's Attorney, Fairfax County.

2009 VACP Presidents Award

Colonel Henry Stanley, Henrico County Chief of Police and VPCF Board Member, received the VACP President's Award during the 2009 VACP/VPCF Annual Conference held August 9-12 in Newport News, Virginia. The award was presented to Chief Stanley by 2008-09 VACP President Chief Rick Rappoport for his many years of service to law enforcement in the Commonwealth.

To read more, please click here to be directed to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police website to view the entire article.

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2009 Altria Group, Inc. Scholarship Winners

Each year, the Altria Group, Inc., provides the funds for two full scholarships to be awarded to two police officers employed in the Commonwealth of Virginia to attend the Institute for Leadership in Changing Times (ILCT). 

The 2009 Altria scholarship winners were Sergeant Rodney J. Fentress, Norfolk Police Department, and First Sergeant Roger Dawson, Covington Police Department. 

        

For more information on this scholarship program, or to request an application, please contact the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation.  For more information on our generous sponsor, Altria Group, Inc., please visit their website at www.altria.com.

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2009 Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

College Scholarship Program

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation acknowledges the support police officers give their communities. In recognition of this, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation has established the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program, a needs-based scholarship for dependent children of active police officers in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 2009, five scholarships totaling $5,000 was awarded.  The recipients of these scholarships were Ms. Joanaly Cintron, Ms. Bridget M. Dunne, Ms. Danielle M. Furr, Ms. Whittni J. Puckett and Ms. Jessie D. Siron.

Ms. Joanaly Cintron

Tidewater Community

College

Sponsor

Officer Greyton Cintron

Chesapeake Police Department

Ms. Bridget M. Dunne

University of Virginia

Sponsor

Captain Michael G. Dunne

Arlington Police Department

Ms. Danielle M. Furr

Eastern Mennonite University

Sponsor

Chief Richard Furr

Front Royal Police Department

Ms. Whittni J. Puckett

Old Dominion University

Sponsor

Chief William Puckett

Richlands Police Department

 

Ms. Jessie D. Siron

Jefferson College

Sponsor

Sergeant Kristie Siron

Staunton Police Department

 

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6th Annual Captains Choice Tournament

at Draper Valley Golf Club

Draper, Virginia

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The golf tournament, which was held May 20, 2009, in Draper, Virginia, was a huge success.  For complete information on this event, click here.

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PELS 24th Session Graduates Establish Scholarship

       

Graduates of the PELS 24th Session

shown with scholarship check

At their PELS graduation ceremony on March 12, 2009, the graduates of the Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS), Twenty-Fourth Session established a PELS scholarship in honor of Lex Eckenrode, CEO of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation.

     

Captain Kelly S. Rice, Winchester Police Department, class spokesperson for the PELS 24th Session,

presents scholarship check to Mr. Eckenrode.

The Lex T. Eckenrode Scholarship for PELS was established to honor the legacy that Mr. Eckenrode created through his vision and values. The 24th session graduates felt that Mr. Eckenrode led by example and provided inspiration and encouragement to those with whom he came into contact, and that he built relationships that created an atmosphere in Virginia that allows law enforcement leaders to flourish.   

When he addressed classmates during every PELS session, Mr. Eckenrode conveyed a message that great leadership is not as much about theory as it is about how individuals look at themselves as leaders at home, at work, and in their community.  He asked the graduates to think about the legacy they will leave, not just in their professional career, but in everyday life.  He maintained that life is all about relationships, and if they cannot build relationships based upon what comes from their hearts, the path to becoming a successful leader will be much more difficult.

The 24th session graduates established this scholarship to be awarded to individuals who portray the ability to acquire the leadership qualities that Mr. Eckenrode showed us all and inspired in those around him to create within themselves.

For more information about the Lex T. Eckenrode Scholarship for PELS, or to make a donation, please contact the PELS Alumni Association at pelsaa@vapolicefoundation.org, or call (804) 285-8227.

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The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities, including education policies, admissions policies, scholarships, and other programs.  The following position has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Foundation's non-discrimination policies:

Chief Executive Officer

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

1606 Santa Rosa Rd., Ste. 134

Richmond, Virginia  23288

(804) 285-8227

For further information on federal non-discrimination regulations, contact the Office for Civil Rights at ocr.de@ed.gov or call (800) 421-3481.

   
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