Purcellville town council votes to fully fund police force after plans to dismantle agency

PURCELLVILLE, Va. (7News) — After much debate, comments and outbursts from outraged residents, the Purcellville Town Council abandoned plans to dissolve the local police department and, instead, voted to fully fund the law enforcement agency through next year.

Council members met Tuesday night in front of a packed room, with standing room only and some residents being forced to listen to the meeting outside the building, to discuss the potential disbandment of its police department. It followed a vote two weeks ago to start the process of eliminating the department and relying solely on the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for law enforcement.

Mayor Christopher Bertaut said the initial plans to vote were financially motivated, to save taxpayers more than $3 million. He has also repeatedly pointed to the fact LCSO deputies already provide overnight patrols, and taxpayers are paying double the taxes of other neighboring towns and cities for law enforcement.

RELATED | Purcellville's mayor wants to dissolve police dept. to reduce residents' high water bills

As Tuesday's meeting came to a close, council members learned it would be almost impossible to transition from Purcellville Police to LCSO in the allotted time, and there was a strong chance they would not be able to finalize their budget before the July 1 deadline.

Missing that deadline would put the town in danger of a government shutdown.

"We cannot do this in this short, allocated time. It is irresponsible and, from what we just discussed, we cannot send ourselves into a government shutdown for this," said Council Member Erin Rayner, shortly before introducing the motion to fully fund the Purcellville Police Department through Fiscal Year 26.

After a few more minutes of discussion, enough votes flipped for the council to approve the funding of the police department through at least one more year, as long as the council holds a budget meeting to discuss the town's financial issues and the future of the law enforcement agency.

Council Members Susan Khalil, Carol Luke, Kevin Wright, Erin Rayner, and Caleb Stought voted in favor of this dramatic reversal. Bertaut voted not present.

Khalil and Luke had previously voted to begin the process of eliminating the police department.

It became clear to the crowd there would be enough votes to keep the police department when Khalil announced her change of heart.

"I will trust that all the members of this council can sit down and take an honest look at the budget and come up with something that makes sense. I will trust that what we are discussing tonight will be a factor in our discussions next week or whenever they happen. Because of that, I will support it," Khalil said.

Luke later added: "The caveat is we actually try to solve the budget problems our town has. I'm for that."

Over the past two weeks, the original majority decision to shutter the doors of the police department sparked discontent among many residents, leading to recall petitions to try and kick Bertaut, Khalil, Luke, and Vice Mayor Ben Nett out of office.

Nett was absent from this meeting, after the Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney announced Tuesday they had just been informed the Virginia Attorney General authorized Virginia State Police to launch a criminal investigation into the vice mayor.

"Vice Mayor Nett should be prevented from accessing all police department records, voting on all matters involving the PPD, and attending all meetings involving discussions about PPD," the commonwealth's attorney announcement stated.

7News reached out to the Attorney General of Virginia, but Spokesperson Shaun Kenney responded, "The Attorney General’s office cannot comment on the existence or absence of a criminal investigation."

LCSO Sheriff Mike Chapman had also raised concerns regarding the transition process.

Before the meeting, he released a statement saying the town council and manager had not discussed plans with his office, and took issue with the town dictating terms for how deputies would operate.

"It is clear from everything in this packet, Sheriff Chapman's statement, and a host of other inputs and comments that we have received, that we cannot do this transition in two months. It's not going to happen by FY 26. Regardless of what your position on it is - for or against - it cannot be done in two months," Stought said ahead of the vote.

Chapman also said additional funding would be necessary to hire eight more deputies to serve the town if the plan proceeds.

This was an issue raised by Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall hours before the council reversed course.

The board is the body in charge of deciding the budget for the county.

Randall signed up to speak during the public comment period, and told the town council the board had already completed the budget process without allocating money for extra deputies in Purcellville, because the town had not made this need known.

"Not included in [LCSO's] request were enough full time positions to take on the law enforcement duties in Purcellville. The sheriff did not request them because he was not informed by any member of this council," Randall said, greeted by applause from the crowd.

Purcellville, a town of approximately 9,000 residents, is grappling with $50 million in debt, primarily from a wastewater treatment plant constructed under a previous administration, officials told 7News. As of July 1, the town will have $8 million remaining in the water fund principal, with $30 million still owed on the wastewater debt. High water bills are a result of this financial burden, according to town officials.

Mayor Bertaut and Town Council Member Carol Luke said that dissolving the police department could redirect funds to alleviate residents' water bills.

In the hours of public comment, residents - one after another - stated they do not wish to ease their water bills by getting rid of the police department, and criticized the council's vote two weeks ago without having public comment on that particular motion.

"The four of you snuck agenda items in at the end of the meeting and took away my lawful right to comment on them," one resident said.

Another resident added: "Why would you remove the peace of mind that allows us to walk the streets at night?"

One potential turning point that may have changed enough council members' minds came when Town Manager and former mayor Kwasi Fraser spoke up.

"You have heard the voice of the people tonight. I think if a decision is made from this dais, I believe you can make that decision tonight. The reason I say that is I've sat here and I have not heard any opposing views," Fraser said.

Council Member Rayner told 7News the public budget meeting is set for next Tuesday, April 29.