NEWS RELEASE Contact: Deputy Chief Dave Dailey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ddailey@purcellvilleva.gov
PURCELLVILLE POLICE OFFICER RITTER RECEIVES MADD AWARD
PURCELLVILLE, Va., October 26, 2022 — The Purcellville Police Department is pleased to announce that Officer Lauren Ritter received the MADD Law Enforcement Officer Award for the highest number of DUI arrests for 2021 for the Department. Officer Ritter was presented her award today at the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) award ceremony in Richmond, Virginia. Each year, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) recognizes the top local law enforcement officers helping to prevent drunk and drugged driving.
Officer Ritter is known for her proactive policing, as well as her continuous engagement with both residents and businesses alike. After studying at George Mason University with a double major in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, Officer Ritter was hired by the Purcellville Police Department. Officer Ritter then graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJTA) in June 2019 and became a solo patrol officer in October 2019. Despite her short tenure, Officer Ritter has proven herself as a dedicated member of the Department and to the Town of Purcellville. Officer Ritter recently completed the Field Training Officer certification program, enabling her to train and mentor the Department’s new recruits upon graduation from the NVCJTA. In addition, Officer Ritter was selected by her peers for the coveted “Officer of the Year” award for 2021, and is the officer with the shortest tenure with the Department to have been selected for this award. She was also was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation in April of 2022.
Even though the town of Purcellville covers only 3.5 square miles, Officer Ritter’s proactive efforts have reduced the risk of impaired driver injuries and fatalities both within our jurisdiction and beyond the town limits. Officer Ritter is commended for her actions to prevent and stop drunk and drugged driving by leading the Purcellville Police Department in the apprehension of impaired drivers.
Please join us in congratulating Officer Ritter and the rest of our local law enforcement officers for helping to keep drunk and drugged drivers off the road!
Officer Lauren Ritter
The Town of Purcellville, Virginia
“Purcellville-your small Town, where history and progress intersect and people prosper,” is an award-winning town of over 10,000 residents located in Loudoun County, approximately 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Having received the prestigious Siemens Sustainability Award for Small Communities, Purcellville continues to be honored for its green initiatives with most recently being the Tree City USA recipient for the 13th year. The Town was reaffirmed as a AAA rated community by S&P Global Ratings, the highest credit rating possible, and is ranked “Safest City” in Virginia in 2020. Once a stop along the W&OD rail line, which has been converted to a multi-use trail from Alexandria, VA to Purcellville, the Town has maintained its historic old-town feel through the restoration and maintenance of its many downtown structures, reflecting the Victorian architecture popular during the early 1900s. Today, Purcellville is the economic hub of western Loudoun County and a popular weekend destination for antiquing, equestrian activities, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries and restaurants. More info at www.purcellvilleva.gov.
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