Senior Staff
Chief Ronnie E. Lewis Jr.
Chief Ronnie Lewis was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the City of Winchester Police Department on February 3, 2025. Before this position, he served as Chief of Police for the Town of Bedford Police Department from May 2022 until January 2025. With nearly 30 years of experience in public safety, Chief Lewis began his career in 1994 as a member of the Lynchburg Fire Department. During his time there, he held various roles, including firefighter/EMT, a member of the Technical Rescue Team, and a member of the Honor Guard. He also served as a Captain in the Fire Marshal's Office, where he oversaw fire investigations.
In 2007, Chief Lewis transitioned from the fire department to work with Nationwide Insurance as a special investigator specializing in fire investigations. In 2009, he joined the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office as a field deputy, and in 2011, he was hired by the City of Fairfax Police Department. Throughout his tenure in Fairfax, he held several key positions, including Emergency Services Team Commander, Peer Support Team Commander, Commander of the Civil Disturbance Unit, and Patrol Operations Commander.
Chief Lewis graduated from Keiser University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and obtained a Master's Degree in Management from Kaplan University. He has also completed numerous training programs, including the Professional Executive Leadership School, Command Excellence School, Senior Management Institute for Police, and a Certified Public Management program administered by George Mason University.
He takes pride in his service to the public. He strongly believes in proactive community education and citizen partnerships as essential strategies for preventing crime and fostering positive collaborative relationships between the police and the community.
Deputy Chief Jason Poe
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.
Captain John Mocello
Captain Mocello has served as a law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2007. Prior to his sworn service, he contributed to a regional criminal justice training academy developing online programs and instructing a range of courses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University, where he double majored in Sociology and Media Arts & Design, specializing in digital media and digital video. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 295 and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police’s Professional Executive Leadership School Session 55.
John has held a variety of assignments, including patrol officer, field training officer, detective, forensic interviewer, FBI Safe Streets Task Force Officer, and Detective Sergeant. He last commanded the Leesburg Police Department’s Special Operations Division, overseeing units such as Traffic Management, Special Enforcement, Emergency Response (tactical and negotiations), K-9, Civil Disturbance, and several specialized programs, while also serving as emergency management liaison and special events coordinator.
An experienced investigator and leader, John has conducted complex investigations involving crimes against persons, narcotics, sex crimes, juvenile offenses, human trafficking, and has lead efforts that dismantled criminal organizations at local, national, and international levels.
Captain Sean O'Connor
Captain Joshua Spishak
Captain Matthew Bielecki
General Orders