Senate 4

SENATE RESOLUTION 4

(By Senators Chapman and Rose)

[Introduced January 14, 2026]

Expressing support for West Virginia’s law-enforcement professionals.

Whereas, The law-enforcement officers of the State of West Virginia, including members of the West Virginia State Police, county sheriff’s departments, and municipal police departments, serve their communities with dedication, professionalism, and integrity; and

Whereas, In West Virginia, law-enforcement officers are on duty through many different detachments, such as the West Virginia State Police, the Division of Natural Resources, the Capitol Police known as the Division of Protective Services, and West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, as well as many other departments; and

Whereas, The law-enforcement officers of West Virginia perform their difficult and dangerous jobs honorably and professionally, while strengthening their trust with the communities they serve with the overwhelming majority of our citizens having a positive opinion of their interactions with police; and

Whereas, Innovative and dedicated efforts by law-enforcement officers successfully decreased crime, with violent crimes dropping by 7.5 percent in 2024, homicides decreased by 38 percent and other crimes such as robbery and property crimes by a combined 28.8 percent over the past year; and

Whereas, The environment for officers has become increasingly more hostile and their safety more precarious.  Tragically, some dedicated law-enforcement officers have died in the line of duty.  Many law-enforcement officers typically see such traumatic events during their career with statistics reporting these experiences resulting in a higher percentage of suicides; and

Whereas, Supporting law-enforcement officers with the equipment, training, and funding needed to protect communities from criminal violence has long received overwhelming public support across the political spectrum; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby expresses support for West Virginia’s law-enforcement professionals; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby expresses its sincere gratitude for their continued commitment to public safety and community service; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby honors and commends the law-enforcement officers of the State of West Virginia for their outstanding service and dedication; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia State Police Association, West Virginia Sheriff’s Association, and the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association.