Three Virginia State Police special agents and the entire Salem field and investigative divisions have earned Superintendent’s Awards of Merit. In addition, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum and Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Whitt were presented special plaques in recognition of their agencies’ superior response to Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. A plaque is also being presented to the Town of Blacksburg Police Chief Kim Crannis, who was unable to attend the ceremony in Richmond.

The Superintendent’s Award Program was established in 1979 to recognize employees for distinguished and extraordinary acts or outstanding performance of duty. The Award of Merit is the second highest honor a Department employee can receive, and is given in recognition of a conspicuous act of achievement, outstanding performance of duty or exceptional contribution to the Department.

The Honorable John W. Marshall, Secretary of Public Safety, and Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, presented the following three special agents, who are all assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville Field Office, with awards of merit at the May 21, 2008, Superintendent’s Award Ceremony in Richmond:

Sr. Special Agent Walter F. Parker: Respected for his superior investigative skills and work ethic, Sr. Special Agent Walt Parker was instrumental in the arrest and final conviction of 18 Town of Appalachia officials, law-enforcement officers, and citizens on more than a thousand criminal offenses. Parker initiated the case following the May 2005 town elections. The veteran investigator’s exhaustive efforts uncovered a massive conspiracy that involved hundreds of illegal acts including voter fraud, bribery, and wholesale misconduct associated with the management of the entire town. Parker was also actively involved in the successful investigation and disruption of an extensive illegal gambling operation also within the Town of Appalachia. Parker is recognized throughout Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth for his expertise and commitment to excellence as demonstrated in each of these significant investigations.

Special Agent Ray R. Cox: Special Agent Ray Cox is awarded this special recognition for his outstanding performance of duty, professionalism, and tremendous efforts put forth to investigate and disrupt an extensive illegal gambling operation within the Town of Appalachia. His commendable investigative work resulted in the execution of 31 search warrants and the arrest of 10 individuals on charges of racketeering, money laundering, illegal gambling, conspiracy, and drug possession. In addition, three businesses, vehicles, illegal firearms, and more than $310,000 were seized. Through an array of informants and hours of surveillance, Cox brought to an end a complex gambling network that had been plaguing the town and its residents for years.

Special Agent Michael L. Vencille: Known as the Purdue-Pharma case, Special Agent Mike Vencille committed more than two years investigating one of the most widespread misbranding campaigns of an addictive painkiller by a pharmaceutical company in our nation’s history. Vencille worked with a team of federal, state, and local investigators to reveal the dishonest practices of the Purdue Frederick Co. and its promotion and marketing of the highly-abusable drug, OxyContin. Vencille logged over 1,500 hours of patient interviews and poured over countless medical records to uncover the truth. In the end, Purdue and three top executives settled for an amount of $634.5 million; of which $44 million was forfeited to the Department and became the largest asset forfeiture in State Police history. His remarkable work on this case clearly reflects his meticulous nature, investigative skill, and pursuit of justice for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

With more than 400 Virginia State Police sworn and civilian personnel assigned to Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, and in the weeks and months to follow, Colonel Flaherty and Secretary Marshall also presented awards of merit to Salem Division Commanders Capt. Richard A. Denney, Bureau of Field Operations, and Capt. George W. Austin, Jr., Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Salem Division’s geographical boundaries include the Town of Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus. Each Award of Merit plaque will be placed on display at the Division headquarters.

“I can’t say enough about the incredible work performed by the special agents, troopers, dispatchers, supervisors, and administrative assistants in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy,” said Colonel Flaherty during the awards presentation. “These plaques are a symbol of everyone’s time and efforts committed to this incident. There is no way we could have done the job we did without the collaboration and skill-sets of so many.”

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