Decertifications of Virginia law enforcement officers have jumped fourfold annually since 2020, when lawmakers passed reforms during a push for police accountability, according to a data analysis by the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO and MuckRock. The dramatic jump in decertifications – once an exceptionally rare punishment – has both advocates for police reform and law enforcement officers saying the new regulations have made a difference. The Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO and MuckRock obtained the database used to track officer decertifications from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services through a public records request. The data, which also includes decertifications of jail officers, captures disciplinary actions from 1999 to early 2025. Each record includes the officer’s name, law enforcement agency, position at the agency, and the date and reason for decertification. The newsrooms also requested and obtained data on the number of certified officers as of March 2025 from the Department, as well as a list of all law enforcement agencies in the state.

Purcellville Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett has filed a complaint in the Loudoun County Circuit Court against Commonwealth Attorney of Loudoun Bob Anderson, according to a May 23 court filing. In the “complaint for declaratory judgement,” Nett asks the court to determine that the advisory opinion filed by Anderson regarding Nett’s participation as a member of the town council is erroneous. It also states that Nett will not violate Virginia’s Conflict of Interest Act by participating in matters on the council. Nett has asked the Attorney General, who had not yet responded, to review Anderson’s advisory opinion, according to the court filing.

After reviewing a consultant’s assessment of the town police department during a closed session meeting Tuesday night, members of the Purcellville Town Council raised questions publicly about how the contractor, Mike Jones, was selected. Jones’ report is expected to be made public with redactions this week, but he told the council Tuesday that town’s officers are “the very essence of community policing.” Answering council questions after the closed session Jones revealed that he met with Town Manager Kwasi Fraser and Vice Mayor Ben Nett before the town posted its bid seeking contractors to conduct the review. Jones said he had a Jan. 27 meeting with Fraser and Nett at a restaurant in town, where they told him they could spend $12,000 on an assessment. The request for proposals to conduct an assessment was posted to the town website from Feb. 14-25 with at least 13 companies competing for the bid. Councilmember Kevin Wright questioned Fraser over whether all of the applicants knew that the town would only be spending $12,000 for the assessment.

Lynchburg business leaders brought their concerns about the conduct of elected officials to City Hall on Tuesday, letting councilmembers know their patience has run out and they want to see changes that will allow the city to move forward. The criticism ramped up after the previous city council meeting on May 13 when Dave Henderson, managing partner of Hen + Hound Management Co., a restaurant company, sent an email to city leaders and the business community letting them know about his worries about council’s actions possibly costing the city business. During the public comment period Tuesday, business owners told council about the messages of support they received after they decided to speak out about council in response to Henderson’s email.

A 28-year-old Alexandria resident who works for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is in custody for allegedly attempting to transmit national defense information to an officer or agent of a foreign government. Nathan Vilas Laatsch, an IT specialist in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, was arrested Thursday in northern Virginia. He’s set to appear in court in the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday. Laatsch, who has a Top Secret clearance, reportedly offered to share classified information with a friendly foreign government in March 2025, citing issues with the current administration’s values.