Prince William County’s founding police chief passed away this morning at age 85.
States a press release from Prince William police:
The Prince William County Police Department is deeply saddened to announce the passing of former Police Chief George T. Owens on March 11, 2016. Chief Owens was named as the founding police chief at the department’s inception in July of 1970. He passed away of natural causes at his Prince William County home early this morning at the age of 85. Chief Owens was born on August 7, 1930 in Saranac Lake, New York where he lived for 18 years. He is survived by his wife Viola of over 60 years, his daughter, three sons, and eight grandchildren. On July 29, 1988, Chief Owens announced his retirement from the department after 18 years as police chief. Chief Charlie T. Deane succeeded Chief Owens later that year. Following his retirement, Chief Owens remained a local resident and was a pivotal figure in the county. Tentative funeral arrangements for Chief Owens are scheduled for March 23, 2016.
Prior to his service with Prince William County, Chief Owens served three years in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953 and was stationed at Vint Farms Army Reservation just outside of the county where he attained the rank of Corporal. He joined the Virginia State Police in June of 1953, reaching the ranks of trooper, investigator, and sergeant before leaving to become the county’s police chief. Chief Owens was selected as Prince William County’s first police chief in July of 1970. At that time, the department was comprised of 40 officers, two commanders, eight dispatchers, and two secretaries and had a budget of $750,000. At the time of his retirement in 1988, the department grew substantially to 268 officers, 74 civilian staff members, 95 part-time crossing guards, and 22 animal control employees with an annual budget in excess of $16,000,000. Chief Owens was influential in the guidance and success of the department through its growth. Prince William County’s Public Safety Communications Center was dedicated to honor Chief George T. Owens in 1988.
During his tenure as chief, the Prince William County Police Department in 1987 became the 55th fully accredited agency in the nation and the 11th in Virginia. That same year, the department received the Governor’s Community Crime Prevention award, the first ever issued to the department. Chief Owens was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and received Prince William County’s first “Manager of the Year” award in 1987 in recognition of his effectiveness as a manager and leader of the Police Department; he was also a charter member of the Northern Virginia Crime Clinic and served as a Deacon at the Dale City Baptist Church.
Chief Charlie T. Deane retired from the department in 2012.
Current Prince William police Chief Stephan Hudson will retire at the end of this month.
