PURCELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

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PURCELLVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
24 May 2022, Town Council Work Session, Purcellville, Virginia
 
Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett were recognized during the Purcellville Town Council Working Session with Mayor Kwasi Fraser, Members of the Town Council, Deputy Chief Dailey, and the Public in attendance. Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett were awarded the Law Enforcement Commendation and Medal by the Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution, in cooperation with the Purcellville Police Department’s Chief Cynthia McAlister and Deputy Chief Dave Dailey.  Both Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett were responding to a local matter and Ms. Beth Lopez and Ms. Kim Zurinski accepted the honors on their behalf.  Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett arrived after completing their call out assignment to receive their awards in person.

The citation for honoree’s Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett reads:
 
In November 2021, the Purcellville Finance Department contacted the Police Department requesting a routine “check the welfare” of a resident. The water at this address had been turned off due to unpaid water bills. It was assumed that the property was vacant after numerous unsuccessful contact attempts were made, until a neighbor paid the past-due notices and informed them the resident was in fact in the home. The water service was immediately restored and Sergeant David Camp was dispatched to check on the resident’s wellbeing. Upon contact, he learned that the gentleman’s wife had passed away nearly two years earlier and that he had no other living friends or family. The resident was unaware of how to access his finances since his wife had handled these matters. This left him without many of the services needed for one’s quality of life. Sergeant Camp immediately contacted the Loudoun County Adult Protective Services, and they worked to schedule and provide the much needed services and nutritional needs for him. Sergeant Camp even used his own money to help the resident with his personal necessities while awaiting the services to begin. This involvement by Sergeant Camp quickly evolved into a deep friendship.
 
Since Sergeant Camp was the usual daily contact with the elderly resident, he took the initiative to bring by other officers to meet and assist the gentleman. Officer Alexander Burkett was one of those officers, who quickly gained the gentleman’s trust and friendship.  When Sergeant Camp was unable to call or visit him, Officer Burkett would ensure the elderly gentleman was getting needed nutrition and services, or just to engage in friendly conversation to help make his day.
 
During that winter, the gentlemen was admitted to the hospital.  Sergeant Camp visited the man every day, even on his days off. Upon his release from the hospital and his admission into a rehabilitation center, Sergeant Camp continued his visits by stopping at his window and communicating by phone since visitors were not allowed inside.  Due to the sudden hospitalization, the gentlemen was unable to gather his necessities.  Sergeant Camp, without hesitation, used his own money to purchase needed clothing and toiletry items.
 
Upon his release, both Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett have continued their close contact with this gentleman to ensure he was receiving the necessary follow-up care and to assist him with needed daily and weekly household tasks.  Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett, to this day, continue to ensure the trash is collected, put at the curb and return the receptacle to the house. Both Sergeant Camp and Officer Burkett have even used their own funds to purchase needed groceries when public and private sources did not have what the elderly citizen needed to meet his dietary restrictions.
 
What started as a simple “welfare check” potentially was a life-saving event for this resident.  Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett actions demonstrate the highest degree of commitment to their Department’s policing philosophy of community engagement and outreach.  Their willingness to go above and beyond the “call of duty” and to directly engage a citizen in need with their kindness, generosity and compassion, reflects highly on themselves and their profession, the Purcellville Police Department, the citizens of the Town of Purcellville, and to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is with great pleasure and honor that the Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter of the Virginia Society, Sons of The American Revolution, present Sergeant David Camp and Officer Alexander Burkett with the Law Enforcement Commendation and Medal.
 
Representing the Sergeant Major John Champe Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution, in Color Guard Uniform, were Chapter President Ken Bonner and Vice President Barry Schwoerer.  The Citations were read by Chapter Member Rhett Wade, Chairman of the Public Service Committee. 

Beth Lopez and Kim Zurinski, accepting the award for Sgt. Camp and Officer Burkett. Joined by Mayor Kwasi Fraser, Purcellville Town Council Members, Deputy Chief Dave Dailey, Ken Bonner, Barry Schwoerer and Rhett Wade.

​Pictured from left to right: SMJC Chapter Public Service Committee Chairman Rhett Wade, Sergeant David Camp, SMJC Chapter President Ken Bonner, Officer Alexander Burkett, and SMJC Chapter Vice President Barry Schwoerer