After a nationwide search, the City of Winchester named Ronnie Lewis its new Chief of Police. Mr. Lewis comes to the City with over 28 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety, including extensive expertise in leading complex organizations, community policing, community relations, and risk management. Mr. Lewis served as the Chief of Police in Bedford, Virginia, and has worked his way up the ranks, starting as a Patrol Officer with the City of Fairfax Police Department.
As Chief of Police, Mr. Lewis led the Bedford Police Department’s transformation into one of Virginia’s most effective law enforcement agencies by attracting qualified talent, upgrading technology, innovating community policing practices, and boosting residents’ faith in the Department.
Prior to his employment with the WPD, Deputy Chief Poe began his law enforcement career with the Warren County Sheriff's Office as a Communications Officer. In 2001, he graduated from the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justic Academy and became a Patrol Deputy. Throughout his career with WCSO, Deputy Chief Poe was also a member of SWAT, assigned to the Narcotics Division and Criminal Interdiction, became a Sergeant and a SWAT Team Commander.
He began his career with the Winchester Police Department in 2017 as a Day Shift Corporal. In his time here, Deputy Chief Poe climbed the ranks and served as a Patrol Sergeant, Narcotics Taskforce Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, and most recently, the Captain of Operations where he oversaw Patrol, Criminal Investigations, SIU/Narcotics, SWAT/Crisis Negotiations Team, School Resource Officers, Animal Control, and the Community Response Team.
Deputy Chief Poe is currently working on his Bachelor's of Criminal Justice from Faulkner University and has successfully completed numerous leadership trainings and seminars throughout his career. As Deputy Chief, he is committed to coming to work every day to serve, motivate, and inspire the employees of WPD so that the department may provide the highest level of service to the Winchester community.
Policies governing most aspects of our day-to-day operations and actions