A northern Virginia town has been removed from a countywide police training academy after its mayor complained about Chinese signatures on trainees’ graduation certificates.
Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBord complained that the academy director, Maj. Wilson Lee, used Chinese characters to sign the certificates that graduates receive after completing their training at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy.
In an email sent last month and obtained by The Associated Press, DeBord told Lee: “I have just learned that you signed your Academy Graduation Certificate in another language instead of English. This is unacceptable to my agency and I will not do it.” We do not want Herndon’s officers to receive these, so we request that they issue certificates signed in English, which is the language they are expected to use as officers. ”
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On March 18, Thomas Arnold, the county’s deputy executive officer for security, sent a letter to DeBord informing him that the county was terminating Herndon’s relationship with the academy.
Herndon Town Administrator Bill Ashton said in a statement that the town is reviewing the incident.
He defended DeBord. “It is unfortunate that recent interactions between Chief DeBord and the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy have been deemed discriminatory. I have known Chief DeBord personally for over 12 years, This is completely inconsistent with the dedicated public servants I know,” Ashton said.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis speaks during a press conference at Fairfax County Police Headquarters on December 17, 2021 in Fairfax, Virginia. He declined to comment on the dispute between Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBord and the Fairfax County Criminal Attorney General. Maj. Wilson Lee of the academy sent an email to officers defending Lee. (Amanda Andrade-Rose/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The town of Herndon is part of Fairfax County and just outside the capital city, but the town maintains its own police force. The much larger Fairfax County Police Department is the primary user of the academy, which also serves the city of Vienna, the county sheriff’s office, and the county fire marshal.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis declined to comment on the controversy. But in an email to officers, he defended Lee, saying: “During an impeccable 16-year career, commemorating the official name given at birth with a signature that exudes pride in heritage has not attracted any criticism, nor should it. ”
Last year, a former Herndon police officer sued the town in federal court, alleging sexual harassment and discrimination at the hands of a supervisor. The lawsuit accused DeBord of knowing about the harassment and failing to stop it.
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The lawsuit was ultimately settled before trial, but court documents show other officers complained of racial discrimination during DeBord’s time as chief.
The town said in court documents that DeBord took the female officer’s concerns seriously and intended to recommend that the officer accused of harassment be fired, but he resigned before the female officer could do so. Ta. Lawyers for the town said the racial discrimination claims were made by the officers who were disciplined.
Herndon police on Wednesday referred questions to a statement released by the town administrator.
