Potomac Local News recently interviewed Deshundra Jefferson, Chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, to discuss her initial 100 days in office and her future plans for the county.

At 47, Jefferson, a single mother who lives in Montclair, shares how she balances raising a teenage son with managing a county of nearly a half million residents. She provided insights into her governance approach and her vision for the future of the county.

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A recent investigation by the Office of the State Comptroller in New Jersey has uncovered problematic training practices within a private police training conference attended by police officers from various agencies in Northern Virginia.

“What we found was really disturbing,” said Acting Director Kevin D. Walsh in a December 2023 news conference releasing the final report. The investigation found the training sessions, organized by the New Jersey-based company Street Cop, not only promoted unconstitutional policing tactics, like extending police stops to develop probable cause but also fostered an environment where police officers glorified violence against civilians, discriminated against women and minorities, and a disregarded citizens’ civil liberties like searching vehicles without probable cause. The findings of the investigation exposed the lack of centralized oversight of police training across law enforcement agencies nationwide, including in Virginia.

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On May 1, 2024, Jose Rafael Lizama, a 47-year-old Manassas Park resident, made his first appearance in front of Prince William County Judge Wallace S. Covington. Lizama is accused of driving drunk and striking and killing Justin Burns, of Blackstone, 39, who was crossing the 8900 block of Center Street in downtown Manassas, near Old Town Sports Pub, just before 11 p.m. on December 2, 2023.

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On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Prince William County held its second of eight planned town hall meetings as part of its strategic planning process for 2025-2029. The event, hosted by Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson aimed to gather public input to shape the county’s future.

The Prince William County Strategic Plan outlines the community’s vision and goals for improving various areas, such as health, safety, economy, and education, through 2024. It is crucial for residents because it shapes the county’s priorities and decisions, impacting everyday life and the local environment.

Residents expressed concerns about government transparency, growth, and preserving open space. These discussions also touched on areas like senior care, workforce development, and education, reflecting a broad range of community interests. “I would say residents are, no matter where [they] are in the county, based on these first two sessions at least, it feels like residents are thinking about opportunities in a similar way.”

“One of the common threads we’ve seen in both town hall meetings is the residents’ strong desire for transparency and accountability from their local government,” said County Executive Christopher Shorter. “It’s clear that our community is deeply invested in the future of Prince William County, and their input is invaluable as we chart our course for the coming years.”

Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye had previously held a similar meeting in March, marking the beginning of this comprehensive engagement effort. Shorter noted similarities in citizen concerns in both town halls.

A recurring topic of discussion was the impact of data centers on the county’s landscape and infrastructure. Concerns ranged from traffic congestion to air and water quality, residents shared diverse concerns on the role of data centers in the county’s future development. Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir previously directed county staff to review the data center overlay to identify potential changes. Planning staff will present their findings to the board on May 14.

Jefferson emphasized the importance of citizen engagement in shaping the county’s future, welcoming input from all residents. The town hall format allowed for group discussions on key questions related to the county’s challenges and opportunities.

“Our strategic planning process is rooted in the principle of inclusivity,” stated Jefferson. “Every voice matters, and we want to ensure that our decision-making reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of our community. These town hall meetings serve as a platform for residents to actively participate in shaping the future of Prince William County.”

From affordable housing to school overcrowding, participants voiced their concerns and priorities, contributing valuable insights for the strategic planning process.

“The level of community engagement we’ve witnessed today is truly inspiring,” remarked Jefferson. “It’s clear that our residents are deeply invested in the well-being of our county, and their input will play a crucial role in guiding our decision-making process moving forward.”

The event also outlined the phased approach to strategic planning, including community outreach, plan development, and adoption. With a projected timeline aiming for plan adoption in February 2025, the county aims to ensure transparency and community involvement throughout the process.

Jefferson encouraged residents to attend the strategic plan town halls in their districts taking place over the next few months. “Your willingness to participate in this important dialogue demonstrates your commitment to the future of Prince William County. Together, we will continue working towards building a vibrant and inclusive community for all.”

Potomac District will hold the next strategic plan town hall on May 8 at Potomac Shores Middle School.

In a letter addressed to the Chair and the Supervisors of Prince William County, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth outlined her intention to withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if county leaders don’t give her more employees.

According to the letter, the Prince William County Prosecutor’s Office is operating with 26 fewer positions than required.  A recent time study showed the office has a deficit of seven attorneys and 19 administrative staff, Ashworth wrote.

On April 18, 2024, supervisors voted in a straw poll and decided to fund an additional four attorneys and four administrative staff for Ashworth’s office. Ashworth asked for 16 new people and asserted that the office cannot sustain its current level of service and must take steps to reduce the caseload. As it stands, Ashworth is set to receive $13 million from the county government to operate her office for the coming fiscal year, starting July 1, 2024. The figure does not include funding from Manassas and Manassas Park cities, for which Ashworth also prosecutes criminal cases.

In response to the straw poll, Ashworth wrote supervisors and listed a series of Class 1 and 2 misdemeanors to which she may no longer assign a prosecutor, including petit larceny, shoplifting, narcotic charges, underage alcohol offenses, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, escapes, obscenity, false identification and false report to police, destruction of property, trespassing, reckless driving (unless fatal), and all traffic and operator license misdemeanors.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is set to approve its entire FY 2025 budget tomorrow.

“The bottom line is that this office was not properly staffed and funded for decades as the County grew up around us,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local. “The time study was able to finally give us a clear staffing standard across the state for all prosecutor’s offices.”

Ashworth, a Democrat, was re-elected to office in November 2023 and is in the first year of her second four-year term.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia does not fund prosecution of misdemeanor cases – only felonies. In smaller jurisdictions, it is easier for the prosecutor to just handle all the misdemeanors as well. However, other large jurisdictions do not handle all of the misdemeanors as [Prince William County] does,” Ashworth adds.

Acknowledging the impact of this decision, Ashworth emphasized the need to focus limited resources on misdemeanors deemed most critical, such as DUI, weapon offenses, and violent crime.

Ashworth’s threats to cut prosecutorial services garnered a quick response from supervisors.

“She claims her predecessor understaffed his office. I don’t recall anyone claiming Paul Ebert [Ashworth’s predecessor] didn’t prosecute enough. The question is efficiency. If Fairfax can do more with less, why can’t she?” asked Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Wier.

During a presentation earlier this month, Ashworth told the Board of County Supervisors that of her 54 office employees, 29 were prosecutors when she took over from her predecessor Paul Ebert, Virginia’s longest-serving prosecutor from 1968 until his retirement in 2019. Since that time dozens of full-time positions have been added to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, resulting in nearly 80 employees.

“By supporting eight new positions in FY25, in addition to fulfilling the three-year staffing plan introduced by Ms. Ashworth in 2021, I am confident that this Board has provided the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney with the necessary resources to fulfill its prosecutorial duties to our residents,” said Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye. “These new positions will make our Commonwealth’s Attorney office the largest in Virginia, eclipsing even the staffing levels of Fairfax County, which serves more than two times as many residents.”

Since she took over, the Board of County Supervisors has increased funding for her office by $6.4 million and added 32 employees. This represents a cumulative percentage increase of about 93.5% over five years. All the while, Ashworth is pursuing fewer cases than her predecessor, choosing to indict 75 felonies on average per month compared to the 350-per-month average Ebert pursued.

Despite Ashworth having successfully lobbied to increase her office budget to the largest it has ever been in county history, she has the fewest average prosecutions of her predecessors. Meanwhile, the county’s murder rate has doubled, and violent crime increased by 70% since 2019.

In a letter to constituents, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega called Ashworth’s letter a “dangerous temper tantrum” describing it as “a stain on the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and unbecoming of an elected official.” She also questioned how a 2% increase in caseload could represent a $2 million budget request.

Both Weir and Vega pointed to neighboring Fairfax County, which cut misdemeanor prosecutions and has subsequently seen a rise in overall crime, with Vega rhetorically asking, “How has that worked out for them?”

In addition to the potential for increased crime in Prince William, the change would also increase the workload of Prince William County Police officers. In her letter, Ashworth clarified that while her office will no longer prosecute these offenses, the burden of prosecution will shift to the arresting police officer, who must handle traditional prosecutor duties such as subpoenaing witnesses, answering discovery, and presenting evidence in court.

“There will be an additional burden on the department in that we will need to train officers on how to do the legal courtroom work traditionally done by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office,” said Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham. “This will also likely result in officers spending more time in court and less time in the community.”

Newsham added that there likely would be a “negative impact on conviction rates during the learning curve.” adding, “Our officers are committed, dedicated, and professional, but they are not lawyers.”

“I don’t think this board responds well to threats and Prince William County does not have an unlimited source of revenue,” Weir added when asked if Ashworth’s threats would lead to him consider changing his vote. “We’re growing the government at a level that is unsustainable given the revenues.”

The Board of County Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the McCoart County Government Building, 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

Alan Gloss is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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At a presentation hosted by the Prince William County Committee of 100, the community gathered to explore the potential utilization of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a viable energy source for the Northern Virginia region.

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The Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy’s Basic Recruit Session #56 Graduation was marked by personal connections and unwavering dedication to public service.

County Supervisor Victor Angry of the Neabsco District recounted the journey of Officer Carla Coleman, his goddaughter, who had been a part of his wife’s daycare since she was five years old.

“Carla is homegrown. She’s now going to be protecting the community, staying in the area, and protecting the community that she loves. I think that is a success story that she loves her community so much.” Despite his initial surprise at her decision to join the Army National Guard and subsequently become a police officer, he celebrated her success and commitment to serving her local community.

For Angry, public safety and law enforcement were deeply intertwined with personal connections and a sense of homegrown responsibility. He emphasized the importance of officers like Coleman, who understand the community they serve on a personal level, fostering trust and cooperation among residents.

Reflecting on previous debates about defunding the police, Angry expressed his opposition to any defunding.

“That’s a dead idea, I never really liked that term ‘defund’ anyway,” Angry said.

He highlighted the diverse and demanding nature of police work, emphasizing the importance of supporting officers in their mission to maintain public safety. “Our officers, are doing a lot. And I think 9-1-1 has turned more into a 4-1-1 line where people call the police for things officers should not be dealing with,” said Angry. “We need to be smarter about how we route calls to our over-stretched officers.”

Officer Carla Coleman, inspired by her positive experiences with law enforcement, spoke passionately about her decision to join the Prince William County Police Department. She emphasized the strong sense of community and family within the department, particularly praising the impact of School Resource Officers like First Sergeant Jensen, who had played a significant role in her life. “First Sergeant Jensen had a huge impact on me, and that’s the impact every Prince William County officer in the SRO (School Resource Officer) role has in schools. They just made me feel like I was in a family environment. And that’s the best part for me.”

“I Couldn’t be more proud,” County Police Chief Peter Newsham said of his son, newly minted Sheriffs Deputy Nicholas Newsham. The county has both a police department that patrols the streets, and a sheriff’s office that serves court papers and protects the judicial center in Manassas.

Deputy Newsham shared his pride in following in his father’s footsteps and joining the Sheriff’s Office. Despite the weight of his family legacy, he expressed gratitude for the support of his fellow recruits and instructors, who had made his journey a fulfilling and rewarding experience despite his famous name.

Sheriff Glen Hill, welcoming Deputy Newsham into his department, emphasized the importance of comprehensive training programs that prepare officers for the challenges they may encounter on the job. He underscored the need for continuous learning and adaptation in law enforcement, ensuring officers are equipped to handle diverse situations with professionalism and confidence.

“The scenario based training presented in the academy are things these officers may encounter. They improve their skills, but also improve their confidence in handling each unique case,” said Hill. “I’ve been a law enforcement officer for a long time, and the basic things I learned were the same. The training we prepared for, sometimes we prepare for the worst, but also, at the same time, you learn how to control yourself when you’re in those situations, and it makes you both a better person and a better officer.”

County Supervisor Yesli Vega of the Coles District, a county reserve sheriff’s deputy, was the keynote speaker. She emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity in policing.

She decried efforts to defund the police, highlighting the sacrifices made by officers and their families in service of public safety.

“When you vilify folks who are willing to put their life on the line in service of others, you create an environment that’s both hostile and dangerous. When I hear ‘defund the police’ I hear two things: these brave and honorable men and women are not supported, and public safety is not a priority. It greatly disheartens me, and I’m sure many others, who sacrifice not only time from their families but risk their lives to serve and protect their community,” said Vega.

In her address to the graduating class, Vega urged the new officers to uphold the values of integrity and service as they embark on their careers.

“Our young people are challenged, I think more than many of us have ever experienced. Technology, social media, and cameras being everywhere – our kids are consistently faced with an immense amount of pressure. Integrity is just one character trait of many that embody police officers. We live in a world where people, especially the media, like to paint a picture that is not necessarily the whole picture of police,” said Vega. “One thing I wanted these graduates to understand is that if you have integrity in everything you do, at the end of the day you know you’re making good decisions and can live with yourself, no matter what others say.”

She underscored the significance of their role in building trust and cooperation within the community, emphasizing the importance of supporting law enforcement officers in their mission to protect and serve.

The graduation ceremony took place Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the Grace Life Church, 3560 Linton Hall Road, in Bristow. A total of 17 Prince William County Police Officers and 2 Prince William County Sheriff’s Deputies were in the class.

The starting annual salary for a county police officer is $62,000, while a starting sheriff’s deputy will make $57,500.

Alan Gloss is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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