Virginia's law enforcement community is expressing deep concern over the election of Jay Jones, who once expressed a violent fantasy involving a GOP lawmaker and speculated on the potential impact of more police fatalities.
These leaders fear that Jones's election could have a detrimental effect on public safety and potentially trigger a mass exodus of police officers from the state.
Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities, a group advocating for law enforcement, voiced these concerns to The Washington Free Beacon. "Some people are going to leave the profession," Kennedy warned, "Some of them are going to be leaving the state. Some of them are going to be retiring early."
He further predicted a demoralized police force, depleted ranks, and a decline in the quality of applicants, but expressed hope for a change in leadership in future elections.
Jones's commitment to law and order has been a subject of controversy, with his past text messages and a questionable community service record raising eyebrows. During his unsuccessful 2021 attorney general campaign, he criticized Virginia's police system for its alleged history of racism, proposed "implicit bias training curriculums," and advocated for the abolition of cash bail and qualified immunity.
Although Jones has since toned down his rhetoric, many Virginia sheriffs remain skeptical. Loudoun County sheriff Mike Chapman, whose department oversees the wealthiest county in the U.S., expressed his concerns about Jones's stance on law enforcement. He warned that ending qualified immunity "would be devastating to the law enforcement profession," and eliminating cash bail "would be real problematic for the safety of our citizens."
Chapman also highlighted the uphill battle Jones faces in earning the trust of the law enforcement community, given his past comments and positions. "If you're doing anything to jeopardize or undermine that, that's going to argue with the job that we do and the community confidence that we develop when it comes to holding people accountable," Chapman stated.
As the state's top law enforcement official, Jones will have broad authority over criminal investigations and prosecutions, including cases involving police misconduct. Wise County sheriff E. Grant Kilgore expressed concern about the potential negative impact of Jones's influence. "Depending on how he conducts business and how he does policies and law, how he approaches big cases, I think it could have a negative effect," Kilgore told The Washington Free Beacon.
However, not all sheriffs share these concerns. Fauquier County sheriff Jeremy A. Falls emphasized the duty of law enforcement to uphold the law, regardless of who holds elected office. Chesterfield County sheriff Karl Leonard expressed hope for Jones's tenure, stating, "Yes, his comments were absolutely inappropriate, but actions speak louder than words and now he has the opportunity to demonstrate through his actions what kind of person he is."
Despite these differing viewpoints, the law enforcement community was united in its alarm when Jones's controversial texts first came to light. The Virginia Police Benevolent Association, which had endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, suggested that Jones should decline to take office if he won. "Leaders cannot serve effectively when their own conduct has undermined their credibility," the group stated in a press release.
The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs group also called for Jones to withdraw, stating, "We will not follow an individual who has made such vile statements against citizens and the men and women in uniform who work hard every day risking their lives to combat the violence you advocate against."
Several groups have lodged complaints with the Virginia State Bar, calling for Jones to be stripped of his law license, a requirement for serving as attorney general. Jones has yet to respond to these allegations and concerns. His silence, coupled with his past statements and actions, leaves many in Virginia's law enforcement community apprehensive about the future under his leadership.
Login