McDonnell Announces New Law Enforcement Endorsements

The Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs Endorses Campaign; VCOPS has over 2,000 members statewide

Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper (I), Wise County Sheriff R.D. “Ronnie” Oakes and King George County Sheriff C.W. “Moose” Dobson (I) Join the Already 111 Law Enforcement Leaders in “Law Enforcement for McDonnell Coalition”

McDonnell already endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police

VIRGINIA BEACH - Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee and former Attorney General of Virginia continues to garner the support of law enforcement leadership across the Commonwealth. Bob McDonnell has earned the endorsement of The Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs along with the personal endorsements of Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, Wise County Sheriff R.D. “Ronnie” Oakes and King George County Sheriff C.W. “Moose” Dobson.

Speaking about the growing list of law enforcement and public safety endorsements, Bob McDonnell remarked, “I am honored to have the support of the Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs along with the personal endorsements of these three long time law enforcement professionals as the momentum continues to build behind my campaign. This election is about jobs. And you won’t have good jobs if you don’t have safe streets. Virginia’s economic resurgence depends on businesses and citizens feeling secure in their communities.I can assure my friends in law enforcement and the citizens of this Commonwealth that I will be a public safety governor.  Together, we will keep Virginians safe and secure so we can create the new jobs and more opportunities that they need and deserve.”

Chip Condon, President of The Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs noted, “Since its inception, one of the primary goals of VCOPS is to work at the state level to elect leaders and pass legislation that ensures our members can carry out their duties efficiently and safely. This can only be accomplished through tough laws; tougher penalties and insuring our officers have the best tools available to fight crime. In addition, we remain resolute that Virginia continues to hire and retain only the best candidates in the public safety community, by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages. Over the past two decades, VCOPS has been very proud of accomplishing our goals through the passage of this type of legislation. Without the efforts and strong support of legislators like Bob McDonnell, we could not have been as successful in achieving our goals. Bob knows what it takes for law enforcement officers to do their jobs safely and effectively, through his experience as a prosecutor in Virginia Beach, a Representative in the Virginia House of Delegates and finally as Virginia Attorney General. We are confident that, as Governor, Bob will continue to give us in the law enforcement community the tools to keep the criminals off the streets, and the benefits that will ensure Virginia continues to attract and retain the best and brightest officers.”

Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper said, “I support and personally endorse Bob McDonnell for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Bob has proven himself as a true leader and an organized manager.  As Attorney General, Bob responded quickly and credibly to any and all requests made by me as President of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association.  Anytime I requested an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office, Bob personally responded to my request.  While traveling the halls of the General Assembly during the session last year, Bob was always quick to greet me and acknowledge my presence.  He has consistently shown and proven his support to public safety issues in the Commonwealth.  Times are tough across Virginia especially in Martinsville, where we are facing a 21% unemployment rate, a statewide high.  There’s no doubt in my mind that Bob McDonnell is the best person for the job, he will lead us through these difficult times in Virginia’s history.  He will make a great governor.”

Today’s endorsements add to the long list of major Virginia organizations backing Bob McDonnell for Governor. Over the course of this campaign Bob McDonnell has earned the endorsements of The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Fraternal Order of Police, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Realtors, Virginia Credit Unions, The Vietnamese American National Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, The Northern Virginia Technology Council, National Rifle Association, and The Humane Society

Bob McDonnell: A Long History of Fighting To Keep Virginians Safe and Secure

As Member and Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates Bob McDonnell:

- Was honored by the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association as the “Legislator of the Year” in 2005.


- Worked to increase the penalties for the sale of tobacco to minors.

- Advocated for increased penalties for multiple DUI offenses.


- Fought for staffing standards and implementation of a plan for full staffing and career development for Commonwealth’s Attorneys.


- Patroned Virginia’s “RICO” Act, providing law enforcement and prosecutors with one more tool to combat criminal street gangs and organized crime.


- Was honored by the Network of Victims of Crime as the “Legislator of the Year” in 1996.


- Was honored by the National Child Support Enforcement Association as the “National Legislator of the Year” in 1998.


- Received an award in 2005 from the National Transportation Safety Board for his efforts to reform Virginia’s drunk-driving laws, making them a model for the nation.


- Championed abolition of parole and “truth in sentencing” reforms of the Allen Administration.


- Was a leader in the movement to reform the juvenile justice system in Virginia.


- Was named Legislator of the Year in 2004 by the Fraternal Order of Police.

As Virginia’s Attorney General Bob McDonnell:

- Spearheaded efforts to establish tough mandatory sentences for violent sex offenders.

- Championed legislation to require a mandatory life sentence for certain second offenses committed by violent sex offenders.

- Fought for mandatory minimum sentences for online sexual solicitation of minors and child pornography offenses.

- Worked with the General Assembly and the Department of State Police to ensure that sex offenders are required to register their email address and online user names.


- Successfully advocated for the legal presumption of “no bail” to apply to an offender who engages in online solicitation of certain minors.


- Championed the updating and expansion of Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.  This upgrading included: expanding the crimes that require registration, adding GPS monitoring for certain offenders, increasing re-registration requirements, and expanding information on the registry.


- Initiated an operation with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify, detain, and deport criminal illegal alien sex offenders in Virginia.


- Championed the Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP) and worked with City of Richmond leaders to implement the pilot program in the Capitol City.


- Dedicated a full time prosecutor to the Shenandoah Valley to handle gang offenses and assist local Commonwealth’s Attorneys and law enforcement.


- Produced an anti-gang video to be used by Public Safety professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

- Established the Attorney General’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force in 2006 to which AOL provided $100,000 towards an Internet Safety Awareness Campaign.

- Distributed over 4,000 Internet safety books to schools throughout Virginia.


- Championed expansion of the power of the Governor to act during times of natural disaster and terrorism in order to further ensure the safety of our citizens.

- Spearheaded legislation to codify the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness and outline its responsibilities.

- Worked with the General Assembly and stakeholders to amend Virginia laws to ensure that health care providers are able to provide necessary medical care during times of natural disaster or terrorism without threat of a lawsuit.


- Led “Legal Preparedness Exercises” along with critical state agencies, to test Virginia’s legal preparedness during disasters and develop recommendations for improvements in our laws and policies to ensure maximum efficiency and protection of our citizens.


- Continued to promote funding for Commonwealth’s Attorneys.


- Supported increased retirement benefits for law enforcement.


- Requested that the Governor retain funding for law enforcement in the 2009-2010 biennium budget prior to his transmittal of the budget to the General Assembly.  As a follow-up during the General Assembly’s budget negotiation process, Bob McDonnell advocated to the conferees for the full restoration of critical “599” funding.


- Actively worked with Virginia’s Commonwealth’s Attorneys to keep the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council fully funded and under the Secretary of Public Safety rather than the Attorney General.


- Successfully challenged in the United States Supreme Court a Virginia Supreme Court decision which created a Constitutional prohibition for certain misdemeanor arrests without a warrant.


- Protected law abiding Virginia gun dealers when the Mayor of New York came after them, by championing a new Virginia law to prohibit the practice known as “straw purchasing” by non-law enforcement entities.


- Repeatedly supported elimination of the archaic “Triggerman rule” in capital murder cases so that all equally culpable criminal actors may be eligible for the death penalty.


- Supported services and protections for victims of crime throughout his career as a legislator and Attorney General.


- Championed strengthening Virginia laws prohibiting production and sale of counterfeit goods, thus protecting consumers and legitimate businesses.


- Spearheaded legislation enabling law enforcement, educators, and social service entities to facilitate the rehabilitation of truants by allowing schools to share critical information with one another.


- Awarded the “Alzheimer’s Advocate 2007” Award from the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Richmond Chapter for his work to create a “Senior Alert” system for Virginia.


- Supported and expanded the TRIAD crime prevention program for the growing senior population in a successful partnership with local public safety agencies.


- Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police in the 2005 Attorney General campaign.