HEAT Awards

Recognizing the Best

For decades, the HEAT program has been annually recognizing the extraordinary efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners as they diligently work to help eliminate auto theft across the Commonwealth. To be considered for an award, nominees must demonstrate superlative efforts in at least two of the four key areas:

  • Intelligence
  • Prevention
  • Enforcement
  • Recovery

The HEAT Awards may also recognize several additional categories to include our private partnerships:

  • Major Case Award
  • Private Sector Award
  • Public Outreach Award

A Level Playing Field

The HEAT Awards have been structured so larger agencies with more resources compete against comparably-sized agencies. Each award category is based upon the size of the population served by the agency. One agency and individual Winner will be recognized from each of these categories. Additional agencies and individuals may be honored as Finalists or Certificate of Merit recipients. The categories of population served are:

  • Fewer than 5,000 people
  • 5,001 to 20,000
  • 20,001 to 100,000
  • 100,000+
  • Across the Commonwealth

Who Can Enter

The annual HEAT Awards is open to all federal, state and local Virginia law enforcement agencies and their employees who are engaged in the mission to help eliminate auto theft. Select private industry partners who actively combat vehicle theft are also considered. The HEAT Awards are typically presented each year at the Virginia Sheriff’s Association and/or the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation annual conferences.

2021 HEAT Awards

The 2021 HEAT Awards recognized efforts made between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. The first presentation of the 2021 HEAT Awards took place in Williamsburg on August 23 at the VACP annual conference. See below for photographs from the event as well as a list of honorees.

AGENCY AWARDS

Agency Winner (20,001-100,000 population served)

     Salem Police Department

Agency Finalist (100,000+ population served)

     Henrico County Division of Police

Agency Winner (100,000+ population served)

     Chesterfield County Police Department

 

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Winners

VCU Police Department

     Detective Kenneth Olds

     Detective Frederic Wiggins

Hampton Police Department

     Detective Rachel Sills

Virginia State Police

     Trooper Jordan Corvin

Finalists

Salem Police Department

     Sergeant Mark Adkins

Henrico County Police Division

     Officer Jordan Devers

     Officer Ramona Hoppes

     Officer Jason Stender

     Officer John Dalane 

Virginia State Police

     Special Agent Heather Marshall

     Trooper Harold Campbell

     Trooper Michaeline Salladay 

     Trooper Daniel Vaughan

Certificates of Merit

Salem Police Department

     Lieutenant Sean Slusser

Henrico County Police Division

     Detective James Gray

     Officer Richard Mallory

     Officer Christopher Minter

Virginia State Police

     Trooper Edward Taylor

 

MAJOR CASE AWARD

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

     Senior Special Agent Jason Warren

     Analyst Meleta Leonard

     Program Administrative Specialist II Shakeima Chisholm

Richmond Police Department

     Detective Alexandria Davila

 

MAJOR CASE AWARD

Culpeper Police Department

     Detective Nolan Overby

Virginia State Police

     Senior Special Agent Michael Jones

     Special Agent Frederick Richens


The second presentation of the 2021 HEAT Awards took place in Roanoke on September 14 at the VSA annual conference. See below for photographs from the event as well as a list of honorees.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Winners

Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office

     Detective Lucas Jacobs

Hanover County Sheriff’s Office

     Investigator Steven Tomlinson

Finalist

Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office

     Deputy Jason Hager

 

Certificates of Merit

Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office

     Sergeant Brian Seay 

     Deputy Jessica DeLage

     Deputy Tanner Poitras

 

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH AWARD

     Suffolk Sheriff’s Office

 

Nominations for the 2021 awards are closed; however, nominations for the 2022 HEAT Awards will be opening in June, 2022. For more information about the HEAT Awards, please visit our Contact Us page or email the HEAT program directly at VSPAutoTheft@vsp.virginia.gov.