More Thanks For Retiring Sheriff Lawhorne: 30 Days Of Gratitude

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Throughout November, we are inviting readers to share their gratitude for others. In Old Town Alexandria, Steve Lenkart is sharing gratitude for retiring Sheriff Dana Lawhorne.

Lawhorne is retiring when his term ends at the conclusion of 2021. A lifelong Alexandria resident in the Del Ray neighborhood, Lawhorne became sheriff in 2006 after serving for 27 years as an Alexandria police officer and detective. Capt. Sean Casey, another native Alexandrian, won the sheriff's election to succeed Lawhorne.

Here's the message Lenkart shared about Lawhorne:

The country should know about Dana Lawhorne and what a sheriff should be. He is not driven by politics or ideology. He is a man of principle who believes everyone deserves a chance - or a second chance - to live a productive life. He has promoted education, life skills, and transition training for inmates. He has lunch with every inmate that comes in the doors of his jail. If you visit Dana for business or social reasons, you will have lunch in the jail with the inmates, served by inmates, with no exception. This is on purpose. He wants people to see the inmates as people and he wants to take the mystery out of incarceration. Through an agreement with the US government, his jail holds those charged with federal and international crimes. Terrorists, major organized crime offenders, controversial political figure heads awaiting trial all end up in the Alexandria jail. Dana ensured that all of them were treated with dignity, respect, and humanity without exception...even toward those the rest of the country wanted to see punished to the extreme. Dana being a humble person never sought any recognition for any of this, which is why few know the incredible good he has done as sheriff...and during his work as an Alexandria police officer. He is better than most of us as a person and as a community law enforcement leader. He is a unique soul and someone I deeply respect in a time when there are few who deserve such accolades. I wish you well, my friend. The good you bring into the world is incalculable. He is a sheriff and an elected official like none other. New sheriffs and elected officials should take note.

Patch's "30 Days Of Gratitude" is a series of articles exploring the intentionality of gratitude and featuring bits of wisdom from Patch readers. We invite you to fill out our form below and write a letter of thanks to a person, group or thing that makes life in Alexandria better. We'll publish your letter here on Old Town Alexandria Patch as part of our "30 Days Of Gratitude" series.