HJR 283

Commending Sergeant Dianne M. Dowdy.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Sergeant Dianne M. Dowdy, a distinguished law-enforcement officer, celebrated 40 years of service with the Virginia Division of Capitol Police in 2025; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy joined the Virginia Division of Capitol Police (the Division) on April 22, 1985, and has held numerous roles and leadership positions over the years; she currently serves as the Division's crime prevention and emergency preparedness sergeant; and
WHEREAS, as a certified crime prevention specialist, Dianne Dowdy has demonstrated her expertise by conducting comprehensive crime prevention and security assessments for the private residences of elected officials and numerous state facilities; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy plays a vital role in the Division's Executive Protection Unit, where she provides advanced training to officers newly assigned to the unit and regularly coordinates executive protection for the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, members of the Supreme Court of Virginia and Court of Appeals of Virginia, and others; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy proudly represents the Division as a senior member of the Honor Guard, participating in details honoring numerous distinguished individuals, as well as fellow law-enforcement officers and ceremonial events; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy's contributions have been instrumental to the success of numerous major events, including several gubernatorial inaugurations; from drafting operations plans to coordinating unified command schematics, she has been a cornerstone of the Division for 40 years, consistently putting the Division and the residents of the Commonwealth first; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy is dedicated to education and outreach, regularly providing training to state employees on workplace safety and violence prevention, as well as organizing and participating in community events such as Emergency Preparedness Day and Drug Takeback Day; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy has consistently stepped into leadership roles beyond her regular duties, including serving as interim communications supervisor, overseeing mass arrest procedures during large-scale protests, facilitating translation services, and acting as a liaison between the Division and the Court of Appeals of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, during her long tenure with the Division, Dianne Dowdy has received numerous letters of commendation and other accolades from community members, state officials, and even a chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her outstanding performance, countless accomplishments, and team-oriented leadership, Dianne Dowdy was selected as the Officer of the Year in 2000, Employee of the Year in 2013, Employee of the Month in August 2014, Employee of the Month in February 2016, and the Award of Excellence in 2023; on January 30, 2026, she was recognized by the Jeff Katz Show on 1140 WRVA as the recipient of the Lieutenant Jan McTernan Blue Friday Honor; and
WHEREAS, Dianne Dowdy exemplifies the Division's core values of dedication, character, and professionalism, and her steadfast commitment to leadership and excellence makes her an invaluable asset to the Division, the Richmond community, and the Commonwealth as a whole; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Sergeant Dianne M. Dowdy on the occasion of her 40th anniversary of service with the Virginia Division of Capitol Police; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Sergeant Dianne M. Dowdy as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her legacy of professional achievements and contributions to the safety and security of countless state officials and members of the public.