From left to right are Col. David R. Hines, Sheriff; VACo General Counsel Phyllis Errico; Board of Supervisors Chairman Sean Davis; and Deputy County Administrator Jim Taylor.

Sheriff's Office wins VACo Award

The Hanover County Sheriff's Office has received an Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO). Only 19 counties were selected out of over 150 submissions. The award was presented due to the Office's SHIELD Initiative, which formalizes a culture of community partnerships and packages this concept in such a way that law enforcement agencies around the world have been influenced through these best practices. SHIELD was developed in partnership with police agencies from around the world to counter terrorism and increasing crime trends. Partners receive access to crime prevention resources, significant event "real time" alerts/reports, Sheriff's Office newsletters, a crime reporting phone app, a community resource guide, quarterly meetings and training in areas such as Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events.

Pictured from left to right are VACo General Counsel Phyllis Errico; Ivy Sager of the CSB: Greg Martin and Kevin Mills of Fire/EMS; Laura Robertson of the CSB; Sean Davis of the Board of Supervisors; Craig Bodette, Chief Jethro Piland and E.J. Ivie of Fire/EMS; and Martha Lambert of the CSB.

Community Services Board, Fire/EMS honored by VACo as well

Hanover County Fire-EMS and Hanover County Community Services Board partnered to create the Hanover Fire-EMS Firefighter/Medic Resiliency Initiative to address the need for firefighters to have access to culturally competent, trauma-informed, and affordable behavioral healthcare. This initiative launched in November of last year and remains operational, consisting of three phases. The last phase is the development of a Clinician Crisis Response Team made up of clinicians who are trained in providing culturally competent behavioral health care to firefighters and are accessible to providers in time of need.

Visitors checking out the new Museum last Saturday.

Hanover Museum of History and Culture now open!

The Hanover Museum of History & Culture and Welcome Center, located at 7496 County Complex Road on the grounds of the historic Hanover Courthouse, is now open. Operating hours are 12-4 Monday-Friday, 10-2 Saturday and 1-4 Sunday. Be sure to check out the five-week Smithsonian Institute traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America”, which the museum procured with the assistance of its partner The Ashland Museum.