Media Accreditation State of the Nation December 2009 - DOC

							    Virginia State Police                                          www.vsp.virginia.gov

    Media Release
    News Release No. 53
    For Immediate Release: December 3, 2009


         STATE POLICE MOURN LOSS OF RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT
               AND FORMER SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY
    RICHMOND – The Virginia State Police are mourning the loss of retired Colonel Robert L. Suthard,
    who passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, after a prolonged illness. Retired Colonel Suthard served
    as Superintendent of State Police from 1984 to 1990, when he was appointed to Secretary of Public
    Safety by then-Governor L. Douglas Wilder.

    “Colonel Suthard was a man of dedicated service to the
    Commonwealth, both in his 36 years with the State Police and as
    Secretary of Public Safety,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty,
    Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Colonel Suthard achieved
    many firsts for the Department in his progressive approach to
    advance State Police in size, technology, and training, as well as
    through the implementation of a variety of criminal justice programs
    still in operation today. While he will be greatly missed by his State
    Police family, we are comforted by his many contributions to the
    Department and the true legacy he leaves behind.”

    During his tenure as Superintendent from 1984 to 1990, the
    Department became the second state police organization in the
    nation to be accredited by the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
    (CALEA). Suthard also oversaw the construction of a new addition to the State Police Academy,
    reorganization of the Department into three main bureaus, and a substantial increase in authorized
    personnel. He also oversaw the implementation of such programs as the Firearms Transaction
    Program, Virginia Clearinghouse for Missing Children, Motorist Assistance and the Automated
    Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

    A native of Callao, Va. in the Northern Neck, Suthard joined the Virginia State Police in April 1954 and
    was assigned to the Eastern Shore to probate. He entered the State Police Academy in Richmond July
    5, 1954, to begin his training to become a Trooper. Upon graduation from the Academy, Suthard
    returned to the Eastern Shore for his first patrol assignment.

    Suthard was promoted to Sergeant in 1961 and assigned to the Virginia State Police Area 36 Office in
    Waverly. Six years later in 1967, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the Safety
    Division at State Police Administrative Headquarters in Richmond.

    As Lieutenant, he transferred in 1975 to the State Police Culpeper Division. In 1977, Suthard was
    promoted to Captain and became the Division Commander of the Culpeper Division.

                                                                                                        -CONTINUED-


                                       STATEWIDE MEDIA CONTACTS:
VSP HQ          Richmond         Culpeper     Appomattox      Wytheville      Chesapeake      Salem/Roanoke       Fairfax
Ms. C.Geller    Sgt. Molnar      Sgt. Tyler                                    Sgt. Cotten     Sgt. Carpentieri
(804)674-2789   (804)553-3494   (540)829-7713 (434)352-7128   (276)228-3131   (757)424-6827   (540)375-9598       (804)674-2789
    Virginia State Police                                          www.vsp.virginia.gov

    Media Release


    Suthard returned to Richmond in 1979 in his capacity as Captain to oversee the Property and Finance
    Division. The following year then-Captain Suthard moved to Northern Virginia to serve as the first
    Division Commander for the newly-created Fairfax Division.

    In 1984, former Governor Charles S. Robb appointed then-Captain Suthard to the position of
    Superintendent. Suthard served as Colonel until 1990. He became the first member of the Virginia
    State Police to be selected to serve in a governor ’s cabinet when he was appointed by former Governor
    L. Douglas Wilder to Secretary of Public Safety.

    Suthard was a recognized leader among the law enforcement community. He was elected in 1989 as
    fourth vice president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and second vice
    president of the American Association of Automobile Administrators. He was also a graduate of the 99th
    Session of the FBI National Academy and 10th Session of the FBI National Executive Institute.

    A resident of Chesterfield County, he is survived by his wife, Lou; his son, retired Army Col. Robert L.
    Suthard, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Nancy Jett Suthard; and two grandchildren, Capt. Robert L. Suthard III,
    and Christin Jett Suthard Timpner.

                                                          ###

    Media Note: To request the photo, please email corinne.geller@vsp.virginia.gov.




                                       STATEWIDE MEDIA CONTACTS:
VSP HQ          Richmond         Culpeper     Appomattox      Wytheville      Chesapeake      Salem/Roanoke       Fairfax
Ms. C.Geller    Sgt. Molnar      Sgt. Tyler                                    Sgt. Cotten     Sgt. Carpentieri
(804)674-2789   (804)553-3494   (540)829-7713 (434)352-7128   (276)228-3131   (757)424-6827   (540)375-9598       (804)674-2789