‘C’mon, raise the rates:’Purcellville chooses safety over cuts

By Valerie Cury

At the April 22 Purcellville Town Council meeting 48 speakers voiced their opinion in packed and overflowing town hall—passionately demanding the town to fully fund its police department and not transition to the County Sheriff’s Office. Residents, nearby neighbors, staff, former employees, and business owners all took to the mic in support. Their message was clear: the police department is a cornerstone of the town’s identity. Speakers emphasized safety and community values. The crowd was loud, emotional, and defiant. Some attendees hurled personal attacks and insults, highlighting the intensity of public sentiment surrounding the department’s future. 

In the end after one tied vote, Council voted to fully fund the Purcellville Police Department for FY26 at $3.2 million. The vote was 5-1-1, with Council Members Erin Rayner, Kevin Wright, Caleb Stought, Susan Khalil, and Carol Luke voting yes. Mayor Chris Bertaut abstained and Vice Mayor Ben Nett was absent for the vote.

Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) was the first speaker. “Eliminating the Police Department is the wrong solution and that is my considered opinion along with the opinion of many of mine and your constituents—who have reached out to me over the last several weeks.

“As an elected official, we have to balance supporting law enforcement and public safety with saving taxpayer dollars. Keeping our residents safe and secure should, and is our top priority.”

Kershner said that Purcellville has been one of the safest places in Virginia and that’s been true in large part because of the presence of our police department. He said the majority of the Town Council now wants to end that and have the County provide the Town with law enforcement.

He told the Council that the Board has already passed their budget and the money has been allocated. “Law enforcement isn’t just a vital service for Purcellville—it is part of your history. It’s been here since 1908,” he said.

Board Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) reiterated that the County budget process ended April 1, and was part of a nine-month process. “In other words, we have completed our budget process.” The sheriff’s department had also presented “all of the positions requested and not included in that request were enough full-time positions to take on the law enforcement duties in Purcellville.”

“In short,” said Randall, “the Board of Supervisors has not allocated positions for the extension of law enforcement into Purcellville.” She said the County has given $5 million to Purcellville and they already maintain Firemen’s Field.

Town resident Brian Morgan said concerned citizens of Purcellville are launching a recall to remove the mayor and majority Town Council members. He said the Council had misused their office by firing Rick Bremseth for no cause.

Morgan said that eliminating the police department “will place the safety of the community directly at risk.” He said he had 1,088 signatures for the recall for Chris Bertaut, 1,091 for Ben Nett,  1,081 for Carol Luke, and 1,085 for Susan Khalil..

Sarah Morgan used her time in silence because she said if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.

Erica Stought said everyone she talked to wants to pay more in taxes rather than loose the Town’s Police Department.

Ami Neiberger said she was alarmed by the proposal to eliminate the Purcellville Police Department. “It’s an essential part of the community.”

Annie Bailey said that dismantling the police department should be a last resort to balance the budget. “The Purcellville Police Department are the good guys. You can’t put a price tag on living in the safest town in Virginia.”

Marty Kloeden, who retired from the Purcellville Police Department and then transitioned to a town senior management position asked how one would be able to duplicate the 5-minute response time. He lives in Philomont and said the Sheriff’s Office response time varies from 5 to 30 minutes. “In a critical incident, every minute is an eternity.”

An eighth grader at Blue Ridge Middle School said, “You are defunding a police department that keeps our town extremely safe. You can’t take away police department jobs so our water bill can be lowered. Find other ways that don’t include taking away our safety. She asked, “How would it work if a response time of 5 minutes is moved to 15 minutes?”

A Loudoun Valley High School 10^th grader cautioned Council Members to do “what’s best for the town and that’s why you are in these seats now. You are defunding a police department that keeps us extremely safe.”

Daniella Harris told Council Members to “remember the responsibility you hold and the trust that has been placed in you by your community.”

Chris Kermode said, “Don’t be fooled, this is a bad deal for Purcellville. The proposal to shut down the police department and hand over control to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office isn’t forward thinking. It’s a short cut; it’s an attempt to solve complex problems with simple outsourcing that sells our identity, independence and safety in the name of so-called efficiency.”

Developer Casey Chapman said, “Our police department shows up every day, in and out, rain or shine, snow—whatever. He said the mayor “is sitting on a pillar of ego. He sits there smugly as a pr**k to these citizens.”

Tanisha Ritter who is former Mayor Stan Milan’s daughter, had her son speak first. He said when he goes to school, he feels safe because of the police officer in school. “If they are not there, the bad behavior increases, just like yours.”

School resource officers are provided by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, and are at every middle and high school.

Directing her comments to Town Manager Kwasi Fraser, Tanisha Ritter asked Fraser, “What are you doing? What are you doing?” 

Mayor Chris Bertaut asked Ritter to “please direct your comments to the Town Council.” Ritter said, “I need you to be quiet.” She said she can direct her comments to whomever she wanted to, and since she was “the only Black people here, we can direct it to Kwasi. Do you know Mayberry my guy? Jim Crow.”

Lieutenant David Camp posed the rhetorical question: “What does response time really mean? I speak about an active shooter. Everyone of you has a child in school.” Camp said that when response time matters most—”what value is that to you.? To me it’s priceless. You have the people here that want to work for you.”

Council Comments and Vote

Up for discussion was a draft ordinance to delete Chapter 42 of the Purcellville Town Code and directing that law enforcement responsibility be referred to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. 

Town Attorney John Cafferky said that there were a variety of issues with the draft ordinance that were “both practical and legal particularly given the time involved here with the proposed July 1 date.

Town Manager Kwasi Fraser said that there will be impacts on administration, parks and rec, IT and Human Resources. “If a decision is to be made, it’s to be made with all the information before you.”

Council Member Kevin Wright asked what the proposed budget was for the Police Department. Finance Director Liz Krens answered $3.2 million.

Council Member Erin Rayner asked Parks and Recreation Division Manager Aime Ware to list all the events that are supported by the Police Department. They are two parades, Music & Arts Festival, Wine & Food, Celebrate Purcellville, Memorial Day Ceremony, Michael Oaks’ Discover Purcellville’s Halloween Event in Dillon’s Woods and the Homework Club.

Council Member Caleb Stought said the timeline causes concern as it was too rushed. 

Mayor Chris Bertaut said that according to a Rice University study over 500 towns all transitioned to County Sheriff’s Offices and there were no reported increases in crime rates in any of the towns.

A first motion was made by Wright to fully fund the Police Department and it was seconded by Rayner. Stought said, “It is abundantly clear that we can not figure it out in nine weeks. We are not going to get a plan by July 1.”

Khalil said if the Council funds the Police Department, then that means other cuts are going to have to be made. 

The first motion failed with a tie vote of 3-3 with one absent. Someone in the crowd shouted “Raise the rates, c’mon, raise the rates—referring to the utility rates.

At this point Town Manager Kwasi Fraser interjected, “Please, so I come before you as the Town Manager, not the politician. Mayor and Town Council, I think there is an opportunity. You heard the voice of the people tonight and I believe that if a decision is to be made tonight from this dais—I believe you can make this decision tonight. 

“The reason I say that is I’ve sat here and I have not heard any opposing views. So again, I’ll put on my political hat” and it’s for the people. 

“You can do that with a vote tonight.” Fraser continued, “So, I’d like you to rethink what the vote needs to be looking at the voice of the people and hearing the voice of the people, please.”

With that Rayner made another motion to fully fund the Police Department for FY26. The motion passed 5-1 with Bertaut abstaining. 

Luke said the Council will have to make cuts in other places. I am just not for going into debt every year. Our budget is $5 million more than last year.

Council Members agreed to take a hard look at the budget and negotiate honestly and to have a strategic meeting soon.