Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Awards Annual Deputy Sheriff of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year, and Valor Recipients
The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Deputy Sheriff of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year, and Valor Awards. It is a privilege for VSA to recognize the meritorious contributions of Virginia’s professional deputy sheriffs and dispatchers. While the achievements of all this year’s nominees were honorable, the committee selected the 2025 recipients for going above and beyond the call of duty.
“The VSA Awards are an important way for us to recognize the courage, commitment, and professionalism that our deputies and dispatchers demonstrate every day,” said Accomack County Sheriff W. Todd Wessells, Chairman, VSA Awards Committee. “This year’s honorees remind us of the strength of character and deep sense of duty that define our profession. Their stories inspire all of us in law enforcement to continue striving for excellence in service to our communities.”
“Each year, the VSA Awards give us the opportunity to shine a light on the extraordinary acts of service happening in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said John W. Jones, Executive Director, Virginia Sheriffs’ Association. “This year’s recipients represent the very best of law enforcement, not only for their skill and bravery, but for the compassion and integrity they bring to the job. We are proud to honor them, and we thank them for the example they set.”
From lifesaving responses to years of steadfast service, the 2025 award recipients reflect the best of Virginia’s sheriffs’ offices. Read about their contributions below.
2025 Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award
Christopher Meyer, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office
Master Deputy Sheriff Meyer has served proudly in law enforcement for 27 years. He joined the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) as a deputy in 2013. He quickly became an invaluable, highly respected School Resource Officer. MDS Meyer is a member of the FCSO Bike Unit, which patrols neighborhoods, special events, and biking trails throughout the county. He is also instrumental in the “Hidden in Plain Sight” program, a hands-on, community awareness program designed to educate adults on the signs of possible risky behavior in children. MDS Meyer is a featured contributor at FCSO National Night Out events, neighborhood HOA meetings, local blood drives, and scouting groups. He is involved in countless community endeavors such as the Special Olympics, including the Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run, Wawa with the Law, Polar Plunge, and Dulles Plane Pull.
MDS Meyer is an enthusiastic, positive, energetic, devoted, knowledgeable, kindhearted, selfless, modest deputy and human being who always goes above and beyond what is expected. His energy puts the Energizer Bunny to shame! Deputy Meyer displays unusual initiative and imagination in the performance of his duties.
2025 Dispatcher of the Year Award
Kayleigh Jackson, Jonna Tuell, and Tommie Wiles, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office
On August 9, 2024, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office Communications Officers Jonna Tuell, Kayleigh Jackson, and Tommie Wiles were the only dispatchers on duty when a Marion Police Officer attempted a traffic stop. Smyth County deputies joined the Marion officer as backup. During the traffic stop following a short pursuit, the suspect shot Deputy Hunter Reedy and Deputy Michael Fedorchuk during a gunfight. With all the urgent and excited radio traffic by the Deputies/Officers on the scene, Dispatchers Tuell, Jackson, and Wiles performed all the necessary functions required for this incident, which included, but were not limited to, calling additional backup units, fire/rescue units, and keeping command updated on the situation. The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office is a small agency, and the employees all know each other and have close personal connections with each other. This violent incident was the height of an emotional and stressful time for its Communications Center, with only three Dispatchers on duty. Each dispatcher performed above and beyond all expectations of a Communications Officer and deserves special recognition for her actions.
2025 Valor Awards
Lieutenant Joey Adams, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Adams was dispatched to a call by a woman with a child who stated that her ex-boyfriend had broken into her home. Upon arrival, Lieutenant Adams witnessed the male subject forcibly pulling the female victim out of the house while she clutched a small child. Lieutenant Adams saw the subject shoot the woman as she tried to escape. Lieutenant Adams returned fire at the assailant, who then fled into the woods. Lieutenant Adams radioed for backup and medical support and assisted the woman who had been shot in the back into his patrol vehicle, and transported her to the Clover Fire Department, where she received immediate medical attention before being taken to the hospital.
Deputy Eddie Daw, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Daw joined a vehicle pursuit of a subject who shot a victim multiple times. The victim had been taken to Rappahannock General Hospital to be treated. Knowing the victim was not dead, the subject was on his way to the hospital to finish the job by killing the victim he had shot earlier. While fleeing, the subject struck a guy wire in front of the hospital. The vehicle spun out and came to a stop. Deputy Daw rammed the vehicle with his patrol car. The subject came out of his vehicle with a gun in his hand. Deputy Daw fired his patrol rifle, striking the subject and ending the threat.
Deputy Norman Sibley, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office
In responding to a car accident, Deputy Sibley saw that the driver was trapped in a car that was smoking and about to catch fire. He broke the car window and pulled the disoriented driver to safety in the nick of time.
Deputy Howard Phillips, Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office
On February 10, 2025, the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call reporting a house fire with a bedridden individual trapped inside. Deputy Howard Phillips was immediately dispatched to the scene, along with several fire departments. Arriving ahead of the fire crews, Deputy Phillips entered the residence through the front entrance, crawling through thick smoke to locate the trapped individual. Overcome by the intense smoke, he was forced to exit and reassess his approach. Determining the location of the subject’s bedroom, Deputy Phillips entered the room through a window and successfully rescued the individual from the burning home. The subject was successfully extricated and airlifted to the hospital.
Sergeant Shad Hudson, City of Lynchburg Sheriff’s Office
While in his personal vehicle off duty, Sergeant Hudson witnessed a vehicle accident in his rearview mirror and saw one of the vehicles catch fire. He stopped to help and worked with officers from other agencies to pull the driver of the burning vehicle free and remove her from the area, saving her life at risk to his own.
Deputies Michael Fedorchuk, Michael Lester, and Hunter Reedy, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office
On August 9, 2024, Deputies Hunter Reedy, Michael Lester, and Michael Fedorchuk were assisting a Marion Police Officer with a traffic stop following a pursuit. Deputy Reedy was shot by the offender but was still able to draw his weapon and return fire before he died at the scene. Deputy Reedy showed selfless bravery and paid the supreme sacrifice during this gunfight. Deputy Fedorchuk was shot by the offender while engaged in protecting and defending Deputy Reedy. After being seriously wounded, Deputy Fedorchuk continued in the gunfight alongside Deputy Lester until the threat was terminated.
Captain Daniel Harris, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
In the early hours of June 30, 2024, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a child who stated, “My mom said that my dad’s drunk and he has pointed a gun and threatened that she is dead but he hasn’t shot her yet, but he’s about to.” The suspect was holding the mother at gunpoint in the basement, with their children upstairs. Captain Harris arrived on the scene and took up a prone position with his patrol rifle focused on the suspect through a basement window. As the mother pleaded with the suspect not to shoot, the suspect heard the sound of the children leaving the front door of the house, having been rescued by sheriff’s deputies. The suspect raised his gun to the mother’s head, preparing to shoot her. Captain Harris shot the gunman and eliminated the threat.
These awards reflect not only remarkable acts of individual courage and commitment, but also the strength and professionalism found across Virginia’s sheriffs’ offices. We look forward to celebrating this year’s honorees in person at the 2025 VSA Awards Ceremony, which will be held during the VSA Annual Conference, September 16-18, 2025, at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
