WHEREAS, Capitol Police Chief Anthony S. Pike dedicated his entire 34-year career in service to others; and, 

WHEREAS, Colonel Pike, a native of Wythe County, served 4 years in the United States Army following high school, and he was selected as Distinguished Honor Graduate after attending the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; and, 

WHEREAS, following his military service, Colonel Pike’s law enforcement career began in 1988 with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; and,   

WHEREAS, after serving twenty-two years with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Colonel Anthony S. Pike put on the gray and blue uniform in 2010 as assistant chief for the Virginia Division of Capitol Police; and,  

WHEREAS, on October 10, 2011, Colonel Anthony S. Pike was appointed chief of the Commonwealth of Virginia Division of Capitol Police; and, 

WHEREAS, for 12 years, Colonel Pike has bravely pledged to protect Virginia’s elected officials, government employees, and visitors to the State Capitol as one of the longest serving chiefs in the history of the Capitol Police; and, 

WHEREAS, under Colonel Pike’s leadership, the agency has grown to approximately 125 employees including 83 sworn officers, has undergone significant technological and training upgrades, and has been fully certified for the fourth time by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission; and, 

WHEREAS, Colonel Anthony S. Pike is a proven leader who has overseen the success of a highly professional and extremely well-run state agency; and, 

WHEREAS, on his retirement, the Commonwealth of Virginia commends Colonel Anthony S. Pike for his outstanding example of devotion, professionalism and character, a stellar representation of the core values of the Division of Capitol Police and personifying the true Spirit of Virginia; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize December 14, 2022, as COLONEL ANTHONY S. PIKE DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and call this observance to the attention of our citizens.