VCOPS Previous Officer's of
the Year
Officer of
the Year2002!
John D. "JD" Fowler --
Retired Fairfax County Police,
10 year President -
Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs
Robert "Bobby" Mathieson -- Retired Virginia
Beach Police,
12 year Secretary/Treasurer - Virginia Coalition of Police and
Deputy Sheriffs
See the
Tribute to Bobby's retirement
VCOPS' Officer of the Year - 2001!
Corporal Mark A. Cornell, Franklin Police Department
Patrolman Eddie Delgado, Franklin Police Department
Officer Delgado, Chris Strope and Corporal Cornell
at presentation of awards in Franklin, Virginia
On January 24th 2001 Corporal Cornell and Patrolman Delgado responded to a
911 call and upon arrival discovered that the upper story of the house was on
fire. As they moved toward the front door they discovered a male lying at
the bottom of the steps. Patrolman Delgado assisted the man
lying on the porch while Corporal Cornell heard a voice calling for help inside.
The two officers then entered the house and found an elderly woman in a back
bedroom. They were able to take her outside and when rescue arrived the
male stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. Both officers
assisted the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department until they were transported to
the hospital. These officers showed extreme courage and bravery and the
Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs is pleased to recognize their
efforts and name them VCOPS' Officers of the Year.
VCOPS' Officer of the Year - 1999!
Officer Damon Washington, Arlington County Police Department
The
1999 VCOPS Officer of the year is Damon Washington of the Arlington County Police
Department. Officer Washington's quick actions saved the life of a fellow officer.
Officer Washington responded to a call with a fellow officer and somehow while the
officers were struggling with a subject a gun ended up in the hands of the person that was
about to be arrested. Officer Washington was able to knock the subject down and
disarm him. Both officers were unharmed. Damon Washington is a member of the
Arlington Coalition of Police, Local 48, IUPA.
Chris Strope, JD Fowler and Damon Washington at the Police
Ball in Crystal City
VCOPS'
Officer's of the Year - 1998!
Paul H. Blocher, Chesterfield County Police
Department
VCOPS is proud to name Paul Blocher the 1998
VCOPS Officer of the year. Officer Paul Blocher of the Chesterfield County
Police Department is a 20 year veteran of Virginia law enforcement. Officer Blocher
responded to a night time burglary in progress call and confronted the burglar. The
subject assaulted Officer Blocher and threw him into a plate glass window breaking the
glass and cutting his arm. While Officer Blocher was down the burglar pulled a 357
magnum which he had concealed and shot Officer Blocher. The bullet struck his ink
pen, bounced off his clavicle and went through his neck. The burglar then fired upon
two other Chesterfield officers at the scene and was shot and killed. Paul Blocher
is an active member of the Chesterfield Coalition of Police, Local 5008. He is also
one of the principles in the CCOPS FLSA suit that is currently in Federal Court.
VCOPS' Officer's of the Year - 1997!
Officer Robert Egan, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax, Va.
Officer Robert Egan and President J.D. Fowler
Lt. Brenda Lundy, Portsmouth Sheriff's Office, Portsmouth, Va.
Sheriff Garnett A. Shumaker, Buckingham County Sheriff's Office,
Buckingham Co. Va.
MPO Bridgett A. Griffin, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax,
Va.
Police Agent Roger Estes, Arlington County Police Department,
Arlington, Va.
Officer David Gonzales, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington,
Va.
Executive Director Chris Strope, David
"Speedy" Gonzales and VCOPS President J.D. Fowler
Officer Mark Guenther, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington,
Va.
Officer Patrick Donahue, Arlington County Police Department,
Arlington, Va.
Officer Gary Thorne, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington,
Va.
