Torch Run Leadership

These officers and staff fall under the leadership of the Torch Run State Chair, who is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the Torch Run. The chair is assisted by the Torch Run Executive Council, which provides long-term direction for the Torch Run movement in Virginia.

See below for the 2024 Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council and State Chair contacts.

2024 Leadership

Executive Council

Corporal Joe Carroll (Ret.)

Virginia Dept. of Motor Vehicles LED
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

Captain Steve Knick

Deputy Director
Charlottesville Police Dept.

Dana Kinsley (Ret.)

Department of Corrections
Greensville Correctional Center

Rose Pleskow

SOVA Athlete Representative

Matthew Doyle

SOVA Athlete Representative

Lynsi Carroll

Prince William County Sheriff’s Office

Peter Flynn

Fairfax County Police Department

Derrick Mays (Ret.)

Department of Criminal Justice Services

Sgt. Billy Franks

Prince William County Police Department

Deputy Chris Meyer

Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office

Sgt. Ben Fravel (Ret.)

Prince William County P.D.

Lt. Ken Moulder (Ret.)

Riverside Regional Jail

Sgt. Nicole Kephart

Prince William County Sheriff’s Office

Lt. Col. Chris Pascal

Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office

Laura Paschal

Department of Corrections

Deputy Scott Young (Ret.)

Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office

Investigator Terry Thomas

Northampton County Sheriff’s Office
(retired)

Lori Fadorick

Western VA Regional Jail

Sophie Benkendorf (Ret.)

Colonial Heights Police Department
(retired)

Lt. Jeremiah Harrell

Chesapeake Sheriff's Office
Region Directors and Liaisons

Chief Peter Newsham

State Chair
Prince William County Police Department

Lt. Shawn Peak

Liaison to State Chair
Prince William County Police Department

Sheriff Karl Leonard

State Chair-Elect
Chesterfield Sheriff's Office

Detective Lakisha Davis

Liaison to Chair-Elect
Chesterfield Sheriff's Office

Region 1 - Northern Virginia

Chief Kevin Davis

Director Region 1
Fairfax County Police Department

Peter Flynn

Liaison for Region 1
Fairfax City Police Department

Ellen Head

Special Olympics Contact

Region 2 - Potomac

Chief Brian Layton

Director Region 2
Fredericksburg Police Department

Sergeant Scott Worley

Liaison Region 2
Fredericksburg Police Department

Ellen Head

Special Olympics Contact

Region 3 - Hampton Roads

Chief Paul Neudigate

Director Region 3
Virginia Beach Police Department

Lt. Adam Bernstein

Liaison Region 3
Virginia Beach Police Department

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact

Region 4 - Southside

Chief William Anspach

Director Region 4
Colonial Heights Police Department

Officer Rocky Navarro

Liaison Region 4
Colonial Heights Police Department

Katelynn Howell

Special Olympics Contact

Region 5 - Central

Chief Eric D. English

Director Region 5
Henrico Police Department

Captain Lauren Edwards

Liaison for Region 5
Henrico Police Department

Katelynn Howell

Special Olympics Contact

Region 6 - Upper Shenandoah

Chief Amanda Behan

Director Region 6
Winchester Police Department

Officer Jesse Beatty

Liaison for Region 6
Winchester Police Department

Ellen Head

Special Olympics Contact

Region 7 - Lower Shenandoah

Sheriff Donald Smith

Director Region 7
Augusta County Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Joshua Graves

Liaison for Region 7
Augusta County Sheriff's Office

Ellen Head

Special Olympics Contact

Region 8 - Piedmont

Sheriff James Brown

Director Region 8
Charlottesville Sheriff's Office

TBD

Liaison Region 8

Katelynn Howell

Special Olympics Contact

Region 9 - South Central

Chief Thomas Merricks

Director Region 9
Altavista Police Department

TBD

Liaison for Region 9

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact

Region 10 - Roanoke Valley

Superintendent David Cox

Director Region 10
Western Virginia Regional Jail

Sgt. Lori Fadorick

Liaison for Region 10
Western Virginia Regional Jail

Roy Zeidman

Special Olympics Contact

Region 11 - Southwest

Chief John Clair

Director Region 11
Marion Police Department

Amber Eads

Liaison for Region 11
Marion Police Department

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact

Region 12 - Mountain

Sheriff E. Grant Kilgore

Director Region 12
Wise County Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Myles Cote

Liaison for Region 12
Wise County Sheriff's Office

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact

Region 13 - Eastern Shore

Sheriff David L. Doughty, Jr.

Region Director 13
Northampton County Sheriff’s Office

Pastor Kelvin Jones

Liaison for Region 13
Northampton County Sheriff’s office

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact

Region 14 - State Police

Capt. Thomas A. Bradshaw, DSL, MPA

State Police Liaison
Virginia State Police

Sgt. Michelle Anaya

State Police Liaison
Virginia State Police

Sergeant Jessica Shehan

State Police Liaison
Virginia State Police

Katelynn Howell

Special Olympics Contact

Region 15, 16 & 17 - Department of Corrections (East, Central & West)

Director Chadwick Dotson

DOC (Regions 15,16,17)
Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

Laura Paschal

DOC Liaison
Virginia Department of Corrections

Katelynn Howell

Special Olympics Contact

Region 18 - Peninsula

Sheriff David Hardin

Liaison for Region 18
Williamsburg/JCC Sheriff's Office

TBD

Liaison for Region 18

Mckenzie Dunford

Special Olympics Contact
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