PD holds drug take-back day on Saturday
The Waynesboro Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your medications for disposal to Wal-Mart located at 116 Lucy Lane on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Read more
Waynesboro PD honors officers for jobs well done
The Waynesboro Police Department held its fourth-quarter awards presentation on Thursday. Police Chief Michael D. Wilhelm presented 6 awards, including naming Sgt. David F. Shaw the 2011 Officer of the Year.
Shaw was honored for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the department throughout the year. Most notably, Shaw completely revamped the department’s Field Training Program for new officers and also assisted the reserve unit with revamping their training. In addition, he consistently performed his duties as a detective supervisor and later patrol shift commander in an exemplary fashion. Read more
Three teens charged in burglary
Three Waynesboro teens were arrested early Sunday morning and charged with crimes related to a burglary in the overnight hours of Jan. 26-27.
The teens were arrested after a stop by a city police officer around 2 a.m. near the intersection of North Poplar Avenue and Ohio Street. The officer at the scene found two stolen GPS units in the backpack of one of the teens and a Glock 9mm pistol in the search of another youth. Read more
Shoplifter struck by car
A man wanted for shoplifting from the Wal-Mart on Lucy Lane in Waynesboro was struck by a car after fleeing the store and being struck by a car on Rosser Avenue Wednesday evening.
The unnamed 26-year-old Staunton man has been transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries, according to a report from the Waynesboro Police Department. Read more
Police report possible gas scam
The Waynesboro Police Department would like to alert citizens, especially the elderly, to be cautious when approached at their homes by person(s) purporting to be in need of money to purchase fuel or food.
Two instances of young adult males knocking on doors of city residents late at night asking for money for gas have been reported to police recently and in both cases the elderly homeowner gave the subject a small amount of cash. These incidents appear to be linked due the fact that both home owners had recently had tree work done and the subject requesting the assistance claimed to have performed tree work for the resident in the past.
Although neither citizen recognized the person or could provide descriptive information it is possible that the subject may have been employed in tree work and was soliciting former customers.
Residents are urged to be cautious in these situations because many times these types of solicitations are, in fact, scams with the money acquired not being used for the stated purpose or anything related to it. Additionally it could put the home owner at risk of future victimization through burglary, home invasion or some other deception.
WPD announces awards, promotions
The Waynesboro Police Department held its Third Quarter Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 3. Chief Michael Wilhelm awarded five Departmental Commendations and one Lifesaving Medal. In addition, five newly promoted supervisors were pinned during a promotion ceremony.
The award recipients were as follows:
- Receiving the Life Saving Medal was Sgt. Brian Edwards for actions taken on June 11, 2011 while working the Soap Box Derby. At approximately 1300 hrs a male collapsed near the top of Main Street Hill and Sgt. Edwards responded to the scene and provided CPR for the victim until arrival of personnel from the Waynesboro Fire Department and First Aid Crew. His quick action saved the life of the victim, who was able to be present for yesterday’s ceremony.
- Receiving the Departmental Commendation Ribbon was Detective Sue Vance and Detective Alyssa Campbell for exceptional performance from July 4-7 during the course of an investigation into two related burglaries of the Sunoco Station located at 1175 E. Main Street.
- Receiving the Departmental Commendation Ribbon was Detective Ben Lemons for exceptional performance over several months while multi-tasking multiple special assignments relating to departmental training and equipment maintenance while also maintaining an active Investigations case load.
- Receiving the Departmental Commendation Ribbon was Detective Christopher Hilliard for exceptional performance on April 15, 2011. While working night shift Detective Hilliard became involved in the investigation of several Commercial Burglaries in the downtown area that resulted in significant property damage. He identified two juvenile suspects, obtained confessions and placed a total of 13 charges which all resulted in guilty pleas.
- Receiving the Departmental Commendation Ribbon was Detective Corporal David Shaw for exceptional performance during the course of several months while completely restructuring the Field Training Program for new officers.
- Receiving the Departmental Commendation Ribbon was Animal Control Officer Darlene Price for exceptional performance on or about July 11, 2011. Over two days Officer Price worked relentlessly to rescue a citizen’s cat that was stuck in a storm drain, even returning to the scene while off duty to continue the effort. Finally, with the assistance of Patrol Officer Jeremy Johnson and a mentorship student who was riding with Officer Price, the cat was freed and reunited with its owner. In addition to the Commendation from the Department, Officer Price was awarded the 2011 Public Service Award from the Virginia Animal Control Association (VACA) during their annual training conference on Oct. 19. Officer Johnson was also recognized by the (VACA) for the invaluable assistance he rendered that day and he was presented an award on behalf of that organization by Officer Price.
As the result of a recent promotion process to fill vacant supervisory positions in the department several officers have been promoted to corporal and sergeant respectively. Although these promotions have already taken effect, yesterday, these leaders along with family and friends participated in a pinning ceremony.
The officers and their new rank are listed below.
- Sgt. David Shaw
- Sgt. Jason McCall
- Sgt. Christopher Hilliard
- Cpl. Fred Smith
- Cpl. Alyssa Campbell
Downtown tattoo business burglarized
The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a breaking and entering that occurred sometime between Saturday and Monday in a downtown tattoo parlor.
Officers were called to Xtreme Expressions located in the 100 block of North Wayne Avenue Monday morning when employees of the business discovered the crime. It appears that the perpetrators entered the business through adjacent buildings after gaining access to the roof and opening several windows leading to the building housing the tattoo parlor. Once inside they removed tattooing equipment, a computer monitor, cash and other items. Owners are still formulating a comprehensive list of stolen property but at present the value of items stolen is approximately $1,300.
The Waynesboro Police Department is actively seeking leads in this case and requests anyone with information contact them at 540.942.6675 or call Crime Stoppers at 800.322.2017.
