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Virginia town council plans to eliminate its police department

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Virginia town council plans to eliminate its police department


A small town in western Loudoun County, Virginia, faces a major change some feel could leave the community less safe.

The Purcellville Town Council shocked the community when it initiated a plan to eliminate the town’s police department to save money.

“This department is a continual drain on our town’s financial resources, and it’s time the hemorrhaging came to a stop,” Council member Susan Khalil said.

A simple majority voted in favor of starting to eliminate the 16-member police department with a budget of just more than $3 million a year.

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“This is reckless and ignorant,” said Council member Erin Rayner.

She said the motion caught her by surprise and there hasn’t been a public hearing on eliminating the police department.

But there is political motivation, she said.

“The people that are bringing about this change all ran on lowering water rates, which is a huge thing in our town about our high-water rates,” Rayner said.

Council seats technically are independent of party, but Rayner said they all lean conservative.

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The move to eliminate the police department was made just after the department received official reaccreditation from the Virginia Professional Standards Commission. Only 25% of law enforcement agencies in Virginia have earned the distinction.

Vice Mayor Ben Nett was a Purcellville police officer, but in February, the commonwealth’s attorney added him to the Brady List, meaning he can’t be deemed a credible and truthful witness – citing Nett was under internal investigation.

Nett was fired from the force, then voted in support of eliminating the department.

The Coalition of Loudoun Towns – a group of all the mayors in the county – announced Thursday “the immediate suspension of [the Purcellville Mayor]” due to “ethically questionable practices resulting in multiple violations of Virginia state law.”

Mayor Christopher Bertaut did not respond to News4’s requests for an interview Friday.

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The coalition didn’t specify whether the suspension was related to the police department or the fact that the same group of council members – at the same meeting – hired the former mayor to become town manager.

“The town council hired the former mayor, their political ally, without conducting any interviews whatsoever,” said Josh Shields, who is leading a recall campaign against some council members. “We had over 80 candidates, some of them were highly qualified.”

Council members said they expect a final vote on eliminating the police department April 22.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office already provides some law enforcement support for Purcellville. The mayor issued a statement Thursday saying that in the coming weeks, the town would begin a transition to the sheriff’s department taking over all the town’s law enforcement responsibilities.

In response, Sheriff Mike Chapman called that claim premature, saying the town hasn’t made a formal request and they haven’t started to discuss any of the critical issues involved with the sheriff’s department covering Purcellville.

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Annandale teen and grandmother killed in Christmas day crash

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Annandale teen and grandmother killed in Christmas day crash


A Fairfax County family is demanding justice, saying the driver who caused a crash that killed a grandmother and a high school student is out free while they’re grieving an unimaginable loss.

The Vu family, from Annandale, was at a holiday dinner on Christmas day, but on their drive home, Virginia State police say another driver rear-ended the Vu family’s van on the Beltway in Fairfax County.

Duy Cao was driving the van — her 75-year-old mother, Su Nguyen, and her 15-year-old daughter, Annie Vu, were killed.

The family said according to Virginia State police, the driver who hit them was going more than 100 miles per hour.

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“I don’t know how to, how to live,” Cao said, sitting alongside her husband An Vu, as the couple
gasped through their grief and recover from their own injuries.

There were six people in their van, and everyone was rushed to the emergency room, including their son, Annie’s brother, 12-year-old Andy.

“When he came out of it, his first question was, you know, ‘Where is Annie?’” said Kathie Vu, Annie’s godmother.

She says Annie’s brother was just released from the hospital four days ago and is struggling to cope with losing his sister and grandmother.

“My mom, the best. My mom, she came here, 11-years-old. She takes care of my children,” Cao said.

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Nguyen was a devout catholic who helped raise the kids while their parents worked. Annie was a bright student at Annandale High School, where the principal says grief counselors have been made available for students.

At the beginning of this school year, Annie introduced herself to her classmates in her AP Seminar class at Annandale High School. Her principal shared with News4 what she wrote about herself. She told her classmates to count on her to always be hard-working, respectful and collaborative. She talked about her family and how her grandmother taught her to speak some Vietnamese. She hoped to major in biology at the University of Virginia saying, “although I don’t know what to do in the healthcare field, I’m sure I want to help others.”

“The other day, I heard my brother-in-law say, ‘There will be no more Christmas now.’ They’re always going to come into this time of year thinking about what happened,” Kathie Vu said.

The Vu family is demanding answers about the man who hit their car. Virginia State Police have not released his name nor any charges. The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney says reckless driving charges were filed, but News4 hasn’t been able to confirm that via court records.

While News4 has not been able to confirm if reckless driving charges have actually been filed against the driver who allegedly caused this deadly crash, the prosecutor’s office says it is waiting for the results of a toxicology test. Once those results are back, it could determine what charges the driver might face.

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The family says that misdemeanor charge isn’t enough, they want him tried for involuntary manslaughter.

“I want everybody to pray for my mother-in-law and for my daughter so they can, you know, in heaven,” An Vu said.



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Former Oklahoma Sooners DB transferring to West Virginia

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Former Oklahoma Sooners DB transferring to West Virginia


The Oklahoma Sooners are fully in the swing of transfer portal season in early January, as they’re making additions to the roster and seeing former players land at their new schools. The portal officially opened on January 2nd, and it will be open until January 16th.

One of the latest players to find his new school is former OU defensive back Maliek Hawkins, who has committed to West Virginia. Hawkins is the son of former Oklahoma defensive back Mike Hawkins Sr., who played for the Sooners in 2002 and then played multiple years in the NFL. He’s the younger brother of former OU quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who started five games in Norman over the last two seasons. Both Hawkins brothers are now headed to Morgantown, with the older Hawkins hoping to win the starting QB job, and the younger Hawkins hoping to crack the rotation at cornerback.

Hawkins was a member of Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class, signing with the Sooners as a three-star recruit. He played in just one game during his true freshman season, and now arrives at WVU as a package deal with his older brother.

Despite the Sooners expecting to return starters Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory at the CB spots in 2026, the portal exits of Hawkins, Devon Jordan, Gentry Williams, and Kendel Dolby have thinned the depth at that position. With Jacobe Johnson also expected to return, Oklahoma will be looking to add a key rotational cornerback or two in the transfer portal ahead of next year.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.





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Virginia state trooper injured in Beltway crash following pursuit

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Virginia state trooper injured in Beltway crash following pursuit


A Virginia State Police trooper was injured in a crash during a pursuit on Interstate 495 Sunday afternoon, according to the Virginia State Police. 

At 3:47 p.m., a trooper attempted to stop a Honda Accord for reckless driving on Interstate 495 westbound. The vehicle refused to stop, leading to a pursuit, a press release says. 

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The pursuit ended when the suspect’s vehicle exited at Van Dorn Street. The trooper terminated the pursuit to avoid a collision with another vehicle, resulting in the police vehicle going off the road and striking a tree.

Trooper’s condition and ongoing investigation

What we know:

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The trooper involved in the crash suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the release. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The incident is still under investigation by Virginia State Police to determine the exact circumstances and any potential charges against the driver of the Honda Accord.

What we don’t know:

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The identity of the driver of the Honda Accord and whether they have been apprehended remains unknown at this time.

The Source: Information from a Virginia State Police press release.  

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