Newly elected Board Members pose for a photo after the formal organizational meeting of the Lexington Police Department Foundation on October 21st. Pictured are (l-r) “Cap” Mattie, Chairman and interim Treasurer; Janet Beebe; Jerry Nay, President and Secretary; J. B. Lewis; and Chief Steve Crowder (photo by Roger Clark, Lexington Police Dept.)

Nay President, Mattie Vice President Of New Lexington Police Dept. Foundation Organizational Meeting Held Oct 21 With 12 Board Members Elected   Lexington, VA (November 6, 2009) – The first organizational meeting of the Lexington Police Department Foundation was held on October 12 at the department’s headquarters. The meeting was held to elect a Board of Directors for the LPDF and to ratify the Foundation’s operating principles and objectives. Formation of the LPDF began two years ago under the leadership of Gerald L. “Jerry” Nay and D. Lewis “Cap” Mattie. At the meeting, Mattie was nominated and elected to serve as Chairman and interim Treasurer of the Foundation, and Nay to serve as President and Secretary. The goal of the LPDF will be to support the Lexington Police Department by providing the resources for innovative programs that will result in improved public safety but which are beyond the reasonable reach of the city budget. The meeting included discussion of specific ways in which the LPDF could assist the Police Department, including: • Helping to obtain or provide training and instruction in regard to new or existing equipment so as to enhance the mission of the Police Department. • Initiating awards for the recognition of officers and employees of the Police Department, and of others who make substantial contributions to the peace, safety, and welfare of visitors and citizens of the City of Lexington. • Focusing on the LPD’s human assets, such as helping with tuition at community college, sponsorship of supervisory training off-site technical training not normally provided through the City of Lexington’s budget. • Fostering an open line of communication between the public and the LPDF to facilitate a stronger and factual awareness of LPD training, activities and performance of duties. The LPDF is the second foundation of its kind in Virginia. The first, the Charlottesville Police Department Foundation, has been operating successfully for several years as “a non-profit organization of citizens formed to support the Charlottesville Police Department.” Mattie and Nay commended the CPDF for the work it has done in Charlottesville and for its advice and counseling help in establishing the LPDF. “We’ve had numerous meetings here and in Charlottesville with CPD Chief Tim Longo and others who helped the CPDF get started,” said Mattie after the meeting. “Their willingness to share their valuable experience with us meant we didn’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ as we planned our own foundation for Lexington. That said, I would also stress that the LPDF is an independent organization, not affiliated with our Charlottesville counterpart or, for that matter, any other group.” Nay also emphasized several points about the new organization. “LPDF is a charitable, not-for-profit group.” he said. “It’s not part of the Lexington Police Department or the City of Lexington. LPDF has been formed as a separate organization, with the mission of encouraging public support for, and a better understanding of, the Police Department and its members.” The following twelve persons were elected and appointed as the initial members of the LPDF’s Board of Directors: • Class of 2010 (term ending December 31, 2010) Janet Beebe, H. E. Derrick, Jr., Bernard Grigsby, J. B. Lewis • Class of 2011 (term ending December 31, 2011) Steven E. Crowder (as of January 1, 2010), David T. Grist, Kenneth W. Newman, Barbara Wright • Class of 2012 (term ending December 31, 2012) Beatrice W. Johnson, D. Lewis Mattie, Gerald L. Nay, George Pryde A number of additional persons were nominated and elected as ex-officio members of the board. This was done, according to Nay, to further broaden representation on the Board by members of key interest groups in the Lexington community. The ex-officio members are: • A member of the Virginia House of Delegates: The Honorable Ben Cline, Esq., Representative of Virginia’s 24th House District, which includes the City of Lexington • A member of the City Council of the City of Lexington: The Honorable Bob Lera City of Lexington Police Department: Chief Steve Crowder (until December 31, 2009), followed by Interim Chief A. M. “Bucky” Miller (beginning January 1, 2010) • A member of the City of Lexington Ministerial Association: The Reverend William M. Klein • A member of the Bar of Rockbridge County/City of Lexington: Donald Jackson Ellis, Esq. • A member of the administration of Virginia Military Institute: Brigadier General Robert Green • A member of the alumni of Virginia Military Institute: Jay Melvin • A member of the administration of Washington and Lee University: James Farrar • A member of the alumni of Washington and Lee University: Jane Lee Forster, Esq. • A representative of the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce: Sammy Moore In discussions following the meeting, Nay and Mattie noted that there are three words they would like the public to keep in mind regarding the Lexington Police Department Foundation. 1) Diversity. We are determined to have a broad cross-section of our community represented in the LPDF, and we think that is evident in the makeup of our Board of Directors. 2) Transparency. Everything we do will be in the full view of the public. 3) Communications. We’ll be continually reporting on what we are doing and planning to the general public as well as to various interest groups in our community. The public is invited to communicate with the LPDF at LPDF@jerrynay.us

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