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Sunday, June 22, 2025

Mike Chapman, Virginia’s Sheriff Keeping Streets Safe Through Enforcement of the Law

Traffic stops and searches of motorists in Loudoun County have increased dramatically the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2024, sparking complaints from activists and some residents.

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, ICE, & Keeping You Safe

LCSO, ICE, and Keeping You Safe – Fact versus Fiction  Loudoun County, VA (June 12, 2025): The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is recognized as a national leader in keeping our residents safe. Serious crime was down an additional 29% in the first quarter of 2025, and Loudoun continues to be the safest locality in the Washington metropolitan region. Unfortunately, LCSO’s commitment to your safety has been mischaracterized by a small number of political activists with a record of opposing public safety. There is fiction, and there are the facts. First, our relationship with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): FICTION: The LCSO signed a new agreement with ICE to target people based on their immigration status. FACT: The agreement we signed with ICE, not yet in force, applies only to persons already at the Adult Detention Center (ADC) on unrelated criminal charges. It gives ICE extra time (up to 48 hours) to pick up criminal aliens upon their release from custody at our local jail. FICTION: Holding a detainee an extra day or two creates a heavy financial burden on Loudoun’s taxpayers. FACT: Most costs are fixed at our ADC, regardless of the jail population, and the average cost of holding a detainee longer amounts to about $4.50 per day.  Our agreement also provides that ICE will pay for any medical costs associated with that hold. That’s a small price to pay for public safety. Second, traffic enforcement: FICTION: The Latino community is being targeted in motor vehicle stops and searches.  FACT: Increased traffic enforcement is the most frequent request from our Board of Supervisors and the residents we serve, and motor vehicle stops are only conducted by patrol deputies when violations are observed. We have increased those efforts countywide – especially in eastern Loudoun where traffic is the greatest – and the result has been greater public safety.FICTION: Vehicle stops, searches, and arrests should be proportional to demographic population groups. If not, this indicates profiling. FACT:  We deploy our deputies based on data-driven analysis – where calls for service and crime trends are the greatest.  Eastern Loudoun has high population density and diversity, as well as the most traffic, crashes, calls for service and crime, so we deploy more deputies there. This is not profiling, and serious crime in eastern Loudoun was down 30% in the first quarter of this year.FICTION: The LCSO is stopping and searching vehicles based on immigration status. FACT: Vehicles stops and searches are done for cause, and immigration status has nothing to do with it. Vehicles are searched for one of three reasons: when there is probable cause related to potential criminal activity; as part of an inventory following an arrest; or following a request and consent. Our deputies never ask for a person’s immigration status, nor is that information available to them when they make a vehicle stop or arrest. FICTION: Residents are complaining about traffic enforcement in eastern Loudoun. FACT:  The LCSO has received few complaints about traffic enforcement and crime prevention, most of which have been orchestrated by persons with political agendas in conflict with public safety.Third, transparency: FICTION: The LCSO is not transparent with the information it releases. FACT: The LCSO is highly transparent. We regularly report to the community we serve and provide all releasable information in accordance with the Code of Virginia and Freedom of Information Act, and in coordination with the Loudoun County Attorney.  Information about detainers and warrants from other law enforcement agencies for persons arrested in Loudoun on local charges may be requested from those agencies. https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=9860LCSO, ICE y su Seguridad - Realidad versus FicciónCondado de Loudoun, Virginia (12 de junio de 2025): La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Loudoun (LCSO) es reconocida como líder nacional en la seguridad de nuestros residentes. Los delitos graves disminuyeron un 29 % en el primer trimestre de 2025, y Loudoun sigue siendo la localidad más segura del área metropolitana de Washington.Lamentablemente, el compromiso de la LCSO con su seguridad ha sido malinterpretado por un pequeño grupo de activistas políticos con un historial de oposición a la seguridad pública. Hay ficción y hay hechos.Primero, nuestra relación con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU. (ICE):FICCIÓN: La LCSO firmó un nuevo acuerdo con ICE para identificar a las personas según su estatus migratorio.REALIDAD: El acuerdo que firmamos con ICE, aún no vigente, se aplica únicamente a las personas que ya se encuentran en el Centro de Detención para Adultos (ADC) por cargos penales no relacionados. Le otorga a ICE tiempo adicional (hasta 48 horas) para detener a extranjeros delincuentes tras su liberación en nuestra cárcel local.FICCIÓN: Detener a un detenido uno o dos días más representa una pesada carga financiera para los contribuyentes del Condado de Loudoun.REALIDAD: La mayoría de los costos son fijos en nuestro Centro de Detención para Adultos (ADC), independientemente de la población carcelaria, y el costo promedio de retener a un detenido por más tiempo asciende a aproximadamente $4.50 por día. Nuestro acuerdo también estipula que ICE pagará cualquier costo médico asociado con esa detención. Es un pequeño precio que pagar por la seguridad pública.Segundo, la aplicación de las leyes de tránsito:FICCIÓN: La comunidad latina está siendo blanco de detenciones y registros de vehículos motorizados.REALIDAD: El aumento de las leyes de tránsito es la solicitud más frecuente de nuestra Junta de Supervisores y de los residentes a los que servimos, y las detenciones de vehículos motorizados solo las realizan los agentes de patrulla cuando se observan infracciones. Hemos incrementado estas medidas en todo el condado, especialmente en el este de Loudoun, donde hay mayor tráfico, y el resultado ha sido una mayor seguridad pública. FICCIÓN: Las detenciones, registros y arrestos de vehículos deberían ser proporcionales a los grupos demográficos de la población. De no ser así, esto indica perfilación.REALIDAD: Desplegamos a nuestros agentes basándonos en análisis basados en datos, donde las llamadas de servicio y las tendencias delictivas son mayores. La zona este de Loudoun tiene una alta densidad y diversidad poblacional, así como la mayor cantidad de tráfico, accidentes, llamadas de servicio y delincuencia, por lo que desplegamos más agentes allí. Esto no es perfilación, y la delincuencia grave en la zona este de Loudoun disminuyó un 30 % en el primer trimestre de este año.FICCIÓN: La LCSO detiene y registra vehículos basándose en su estatus migratorio. REALIDAD: Las detenciones y registros de vehículos se realizan con justificación, y el estatus migratorio no tiene nada que ver. Los vehículos se registran por una de tres razones: cuando existe una causa probable relacionada con una posible actividad delictiva; como parte de un inventario posterior a un arresto; o tras una solicitud y consentimiento. Nuestros agentes nunca preguntan por el estatus migratorio de una persona, ni tienen acceso a esa información cuando detienen o arrestan a una persona un vehículo. FICCIÓN: Los residentes se quejan de la aplicación de las leyes de tránsito en el este de Loudoun. REALIDAD: La LCSO ha recibido pocas quejas sobre la aplicación de las leyes de tránsito y la prevención del delito, la mayoría de las cuales han sido orquestadas por personas con agendas políticas en conflicto con la seguridad pública. Tercero, transparencia: FICCIÓN: La LCSO no es transparente con la información que divulga. REALIDAD: La LCSO es altamente transparente. Informamos periódicamente a la comunidad a la que servimos y proporcionamos toda la información disponible de conformidad con el Código de Virginia y la Ley de Libertad de Información, en coordinación con el Fiscal del Condado de Loudoun. Información sobre órdenes de detención y órdenes de arresto emitidas por otras agencias del orden público referente a personas arrestadas en Loudoun por cargos locales, se puede solicitar a dichas agencias. https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=9860 

Virginia doesn’t have statewide data center regulations. Localities are making their own rules.

Virginia is home to over a third of the data centers worldwide. These energy hungry facilities have brought business to the commonwealth, but communities are seeing the impact of the electricity and water usage hit their utility bills. Now, many localities are debating how to balance the opportunities and challenges data centers present, and grappling with how to regulate them.

Ommair Butt running for House of Delegates District 26

PRESS RELEASE from Ommair for Virginia
, Virginia – Ommair Butt, Republican candidate for Virginia State Delegate in the 26th District of Loudoun County, is committed to preserving the core values that make Loudoun a thriving and prosperous community. Focused on fiscal responsibility, economic growth, education reform, and public safety, Ommair aims to ensure Loudoun remains an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family.

A dedicated husband and father of two, Ommair brings over two decades of experience in Software Implementation and Information , successfully leading multi-million-dollar projects across both the commercial and public sectors, including roles with the Department of Homeland Security, the Navy, and the Army. Having actively participated in several political campaigns, Ommair previously ran for Virginia State Senate District 32 and Virginia State Delegate District 26. As a long-time Loudoun County resident, he is a respected community leader who actively engages in interfaith events and programs to promote peace and understanding among all religions and demographics. Ommair and his family celebrate the region’s rich cultural diversity and holidays, leading by example as he involves his in these traditions. 

“Loudoun County is where tradition meets progress—where families build their futures, businesses innovate, and neighbors unite to strengthen our community,” said Ommair. “My campaign is centered on defending the values that matter most: quality education, economic opportunity, responsible growth, and public safety. I am ready to bring strong, conservative leadership to Richmond to protect our way of life and keep Loudoun moving forward.”

Ommair’s campaign is built around key priorities that reflect the values of Loudoun County residents:

  • Strengthening Education and Protecting  – Advocating for higher educational standards, ensuring that boys are not allowed in girls’ bathrooms, sports, or locker rooms, combating drug use in schools, increasing parental involvement, and focusing on academic excellence over political agendas.
  • Fostering Economic Growth and Innovation – Eliminate property tax on vehicles (Car Tax), Supporting pro-business policies, reducing unnecessary regulations, and creating an environment that attracts investment and high-paying .
  • Preserving Loudoun’s Natural Beauty and Promoting Responsible Growth – Advocating for policies that balance development with environmental conservation to ensure Loudoun maintains its scenic landscapes and rural character.
  • Improving and Infrastructure – Securing funding for road projects, reducing traffic congestion, and expanding transportation options for commuters and local businesses.
  • Enhancing Public Safety and Supporting Law Enforcement – Ensuring law enforcement and first responders have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, while prioritizing prevention and mental health initiatives.
  • Defending Constitutional Freedoms – Protecting rights and ensuring that government policies respect personal freedoms and individual liberties.
  • Stop Dominion Energy’s Unsightly Electric Poles in Neighborhoods – Since 2024, I have been actively engaging and educating our community to push back against Dominion Energy’s plans to install power lines in Ashburn and surrounding neighborhoods. My preferred solution is to bury all power lines underground, with partial undergrounding as a secondary option—especially near schools to protect our children. There can be NO compromise when it comes to the health and safety of our children. I have also communicated these concerns to the Loudoun County Public Schools Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors. 
  • Support for the retired Military, , and Public Service Employees – Retired military personnel, veterans and our dedicated public servants, including teachers, firefighters, and officers, deserve our gratitude – and lower taxes. We will fight for tax reductions to honor their services and sacrifice.
  • Securing Schools and Places of Worship – Advocating for armed security personnel in schools and places of worship (churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples) to prevent tragedies that have claimed innocent lives across the nation.
  • Encouraging Civic Engagement and Local Governance – Promoting active community involvement in local decision-making and ensuring Loudoun residents’ voices are heard in Richmond.

“Loudoun’s future depends on strong leadership that reflects our conservative values and delivers practical solutions,” Ommair added. “I am ready to fight for our community, protect our families, and ensure that Loudoun County continues to thrive.”

For more information, please visit:
www.OmmairForVa.com
@Ommair4VA

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