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New leadership for Virginia State Police administrative bureau

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policeWith the retirement of Bureau Director Lt. Colonel Robert G. Kemmler, Colonel W. Steven Flaherty announces the promotion of Virginia State Police personnel to executive staff positions within the Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS) in Richmond.

Succeeding Lt. Colonel Kemmler as BASS Bureau Director is Deputy Director, Major Tracy S. Russillo. Effective Dec. 25, 2015, Russillo’s promotion to Lieutenant Colonel makes her the highest-ranking female and the first woman in the Department’s 83-year history to assume command of a Bureau.

Russillo, a native of Fredericksburg, joined the Department May 16, 1989. Her first patrol assignment as a trooper was in Spotsylvania County and she spent an additional two years patrolling Culpeper County. As she progressed through the VSP ranks, Russillo has served as an Academy sergeant in Richmond and area commander of the Winchester Area Office before she was promoted to field lieutenant in the Culpeper Division. In 2008, she achieved the rank of captain serving as the Fairfax Division commander in the Northern Virginia region. Russillo was promoted to major in 2011 following her appointment as BASS Deputy Director.

Russillo, 49, received a Master’s in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security; a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from George Mason University and received a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Criminal Justice Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also attended several leadership programs including the “Institute for Leadership in Changing Times” at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command.

Also, effective Dec. 25, is the appointment of Captain Kirk S. Marlowe to the position of BASS Deputy Director. Marlowe, 50, is currently division commander for the High Tech Crimes Division (HTCD) within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). He began his career with state police Aug. 1, 1988, and spent seven years in the Richmond Division as a trooper and special agent before he was promoted to Academy sergeant in 1996.

Over the years with state police, he has managed the Violent Crimes Unit and Professional Standards Unit as a first sergeant and in 2004 was promoted to lieutenant. A year later, he achieved the rank of Captain of the Support Services Division before being assigned in 2009 to establish and supervise the new HTCD.

Marlowe is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Studies. He also graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security with a Master’s Degree in Security Studies and was a valedictorian of the Administrative Officer’s Graduate Course at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.

After more than three decades of distinguished service with the Virginia State Police, Lt. Colonel Robert G. Kemmler’s retirement is effective Jan. 1, 2016. The 63-year-old has served as the BASS Bureau Director for the past eight years. He has served in a number of capacities during his 35 years with the Department, including BASS deputy director and division commander of the Department’s Richmond Division. His first patrol assignment as a trooper was in Dinwiddie County before beginning an extensive career in undercover narcotics and as a bomb/explosives technician. Kemmler also served in the Department’s Pharmaceutical Diversion Unit for eight years. The Pennsylvania native has an impressive list of accomplishments with the Department to include administering the development of the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program, and Virginia’s AMBER, Senior and Blue Alert systems, as well as the implementation of the Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) and construction of the Department’s Driver Training and Firearms Complex in Nottoway County.

Kemmler holds a Master of Administration of Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from American University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

The Bureau of Administrative and Support Services consists of the Communications, Criminal Justice Information Services, Information Technology, Personnel, Property and Finance, and Training divisions. Employees within this Bureau provide the Virginia State Police, as well as local and other state law enforcement, with support and essential services through their expertise and technical and professional backgrounds. BASS includes the largest number of civilian personnel within the Department.

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