Chief Barnard Walked the Walk

A Message from Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye…

As Chief Barry Barnard steps down from his decades of service with the Prince William County Police Department, I fondly recall our first formal meeting a number of years ago, during my work as Chair of the Prince William  NAACP Criminal Justice Committee. It was refreshing to have a chief who was open, transparent, and willing to listen and take feedback. Our meetings were always collaborative and productive.

His emphasis on diversifying the police force to better reflect our community should also be commended. Additionally, under his leadership, PWCPD has maintained its  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) accreditation–a distinction held by only a fraction of departments. He also oversaw the implementation of a Body Worn Camera program and Prince William’s first co-responder unit, which pairs trained therapists with police officers to respond to, and deescalate, mental health related calls.

Above all, Chief Barnard has always made himself present, accountable, and dedicated to trust. In one of his last acts as Chief, he helped restore and heal the trust between law enforcement and our immigrant neighbors, calling for the end of a detention program that has kept us divided for far too long. It’s proof that he walks the talk.