10 Years and Soon-To-Be Four Police Chiefs Later
On April 1, 2015, Purcellville’s Police Chief Darryl Smith retired after nine years of service. Chief Smith was instrumental to the development of community and youth engagement programs in the town.
After an exhaustive search that included 54 candidates, Purcellville’s town council selected Cynthia A. McAlister to become the new police chief in May 2015. Mayor Fraser noted that “Chief McAlister brings to our great community 33 years of law enforcement experience, coupled with unparalleled enthusiasm and partnership….She holds firm on the principle that community policing should be the blood and heart of all officers.”
Mayor Fraser had obtained a majority council with the spring 2016 elections, and changes were being made. In the spring of 2017 the majority council forced the retirement of Rob Lohr, the Town Manager of 24 years. After the retirement of Lohr, Mayor Fraser’s council appointed Alex Vanegas, Director of Public Works, as the interim town manager.
In the summer of 2017, Alex Vanegas began an employee investigation of Chief McAlister after receiving complaints from several police officers. On November 1, 2017, Vanegas presented his report to the Purcellville Town Council in a special closed meeting. After the meeting the town council supported a vote of no confidence in the chief. Vanegas fired the chief the following day.
However, on November 19, the town announced that the integrity of Vanegas’s investigation was flawed after it was disclosed that he was allegedly involved in an inappropriate intimate relationship with Georgia Nuckolls. Vanegas had hired Nuckolls to lead the investigation of Chief McAlister. Subsequently, a photo released also showed Nuckolls and a polygrapher she had hired for the investigation being intimate in the town hall elevators, thus skewing the investigation further. Chief McAlister was immediately reinstated and placed on administrative leave along with Vanegas, the town attorney, the HR administrator and certain police officers.
Over the next several months, independent investigations were performed by consultants appointed by Purcellville. In 2018, Purcellville fully reinstated Chief McAlister and the town attorney and cleared them of all allegations. Some police officers were reinstated, and others resigned. Alex Venegas was terminated in April of 2018. By 2024, all lawsuits that were filed as a result of the false allegations had been settled outside of court.
In March 2018, Purcellville hired David Mekarski as their new town manager. The council moved forward with an operation audit to review and assess the town’s current organizational structure, operations and delivery of service. A separate operation audit was performed for the police department.
The community welcomed Chief McAlister back to Purcellville’s police headquarters with open arms. She continued to put citizens, businesses and her department’s safety first as she implemented new procedures.
In May of 2024, Chief McAlister retired after nine years of service to Purcellville and 42 years of law enforcement service to Northern Virginia. Lieutenant Barry Dufek presented McAlister with her retirement credentials and said, “Her legacy was defined by the police officers and community she had uplifted.”
In April of 2024, Purcellville announced a recruitment effort for the next police chief. The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police oversaw the recruitment process. In June, Purcellville announced that Barry Dufek had been appointed to serve as Purcellville’s next police chief.
Purcellville elected a new mayor and two new council members in November, one of whom is a current police officer. On January 8, the new majority council terminated Purcellville’s Town Manager and hired former Mayor Kwasi Fraser as the interim town manager. Mr. Fraser actively campaigned for the new majority in the fall of 2024.
On January 16, 2025, Chief Barry Dufek announced his retirement as of February 3. His statement reads, in part, “I stand firm in my belief that leadership should always reflect the highest standards of integrity and transparency. Unfortunately, in my experience as your chief these principles aren’t shared by all. Our community deserves a collaborative culture that relentlessly pursues the betterment of all residents and employees. It is my hope that your voices help influence positive change for this town.” Deputy Chief Sara Lombraña has assumed the role as interim chief.
By Beverly Chiasson
