SJR 213

Commending Ryan Dean.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Ryan Dean, a dedicated and highly experienced law-enforcement officer, retired as chief of the Stanley Police Department on February 26, 2026, after more than a decade of leadership; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Dean, known to family members and friends as “Beaver,” grew up in Shenandoah and graduated from the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Academy; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Dean began his 31-year career as a law-enforcement officer at the Page County Sheriff's Office in 1994; at only 18 years old, he was one of the youngest deputies in the Commonwealth at the time; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Dean joined the Stanley Police Department in 2000 as a patrol officer and was involved in several notable cases over the course of his career, including in 2014, when he made national news for catching a bank robber; he worked his way up through the ranks to become chief in 2016; and
WHEREAS, as chief of the Stanley Police Department for 10 years, Ryan Dean worked diligently to ensure that his officers had the equipment, training, and support they need to serve and protect members of the public; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as chief, Ryan Dean oversaw efforts to enhance highway safety, acquired ballistic armor vests for his officers, added a school resource officer to Stanley Elementary School, and built strong relationships with the community as an emergency manager for town events; and
WHEREAS, over the years, Ryan Dean helped guide the community through numerous severe weather events and crisis situations, including the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, outside of his career in law enforcement, Ryan Dean mentored and inspired young people as a youth baseball and basketball coach; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Dean served the Stanley community and the Commonwealth with integrity and distinction and left the Stanley Police Department well prepared to meet the challenges of the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ryan Dean on the occasion of his retirement as chief of the Stanley Police Department in 2026; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ryan Dean as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his legacy of outstanding achievements on behalf of the Stanley community.