LCSO Statement regarding the Purcellville TC Meeting April 22

Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman has neither been consulted about nor agrees with the representations in the document published in the Purcellville Town Council meeting packet describing the dissolution of its Police Department and replacement with services provided by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

The document was published in preparation for its April 22, 2025, meeting, and addresses the Council’s desire to dissolve its Police Department and rely exclusively on the services of the LCSO. It provides three examples of other jurisdictions in the United States (two in California, one in South Carolina) that have undertaken such a change, and sets several conditions and requirements for the LCSO.

Unfortunately, nothing in the published document has been discussed with Sheriff Chapman or the LCSO’s Leadership Team.  For example, the document states: (1) the Town will negotiate a “contract” to keep a dedicated team of LCSO deputies assigned to Purcellville, just like their current police department, to include extra deputies for large events; (2) the LCSO will assign a minimum of eight (8) deputies exclusively to the Town with 24/7 overlapping coverage; (3) the LCSO will maintain a physical presence (station) in the Town; and (4) a formal agreement will “spell out” LCSO response times, patrol frequency and community policing duties, to include performance metrics for periodic Council review. 

While the LCSO is willing to provide law enforcement support and services to the Town of Purcellville, the Town Council has no jurisdiction to place conditions or requirements on the LCSO should its Police Department be dissolved.

The LCSO’s coverage for the Town of Purcellville would be consistent with the coverage provided to the other incorporated towns in Loudoun County that do not have their own police departments, including the towns of Hamilton, Hillsboro, Lovettsville, and Round Hill.  

The LCSO works closely with all town governments in Loudoun County to provide excellent service but does not answer to or have formal agreements with any town without its own police department. Further, any transition in Purcellville would require a significant period of time to accomplish, to include considerations of personnel, personnel records, ongoing investigations, transfer of evidence, disposition of property, and other administrative and operational matters. 

As previously stated, the LCSO is committed to a transparent conversation with the Mayor, Town Council and other town and county stakeholders, along with the residents of Purcellville, about their expectations, what the LCSO’s role might look like, and if the Purcellville Police Department is dissolved, how and when it would be accomplished and funded.