Purcellville News has received a six-page email written by Carl Ben Nett, a member of the Purcellville Town Council and a Purcellville Police Officer, to the police department auditor Michael Jones, who has verified to local news outlets that he did indeed receive this email from Nett. Jones recently entered into a contract with Interim Town Manager Kwasi Fraser to perform an operational audit of the Purcellville Police Department.

In the email, Nett expresses his concerns about his employment status and his belief that Acting Chief of Police Sara Lombrana is not following the Town Manager’s directive to reinstate him to full duty. He characterizes himself as facing retaliation and seeks to present his perspective to the auditor, as he aspires to secure the Chief of Police position amid challenges within the department.

Residents have expressed concerns regarding Nett’s dual roles as both a town council member and a police officer, questioning whether he can effectively manage both responsibilities without conflicts of interest. The email reveals Nett’s desire to influence public perception while also highlighting the challenges faced by the department.

Key points from the email include:

– Nett’s Intentions: Nett aims to transition into the Chief of Police role shortly after his election, indicating a personal ambition tied to his service in the community.

– Community Engagement: The email presents Nett as a committed community member while also raising questions about his views on the capabilities of his colleagues.

– Qualifications for Leadership: The tone of the email suggests doubts about the qualifications of others in leadership roles, as Nett positions himself as a strong candidate for the Chief position.

Critics suggest that the email’s content may present a skewed narrative, portraying Nett as a victim while positioning himself for advancement within the department. This is particularly notable in light of his inclusion on the Commonwealth Attorney’s “Brady List,” which identifies law enforcement officers with credibility concerns that could affect their court testimonies.

This situation has prompted discussions about the ethical implications of Nett’s actions and their potential impact on the integrity of the Town Council, the Interim Town Manager, and the Purcellville Police Department. In response to these developments, some community members are advocating for increased accountability and transparency in local governance.

To maintain transparency about the ongoing situation, only two and a half pages of Carl Ben Nett’s email will be provided for public viewing, as the remaining content contains private information pertaining to other police officers. Below are the few pages from the email that highlight his concerns and proposed changes:

“I look forward to the benefit of your expertise in helping determine the best path forward for our beleaguered police department. I call your immediate attention to outstanding issues affecting my employment and duty status.”

“In defiance of the Town Manager’s directive to reinstate me to full duty status from Administrative Leave – a directive supported by legal guidance from the Town Attorney – the current Acting Chief, Deputy Chief Sara Lombrana, defied that lawful directive and proceeded with retaliatory IA investigations against me and a resulting notice of intent to terminate my employment with the Town of Purcellville Police Department. I remain unable to access the Purcellville Police Department headquarters or my work email. I was forced to seek continuance in a criminal proceeding scheduled for February 26, because I cannot access my case file and evidence.”

“Following resolution of that issue, I request appointment as your second-in-command during this evaluation and transition process. Put bluntly, while acknowledging that you do not answer to me in any way during this process, I do intend to emerge from the current turmoil affecting our Department as the permanent Chief of Police. I will be submitting my résumé for consideration of same and value your honest assessment.”

“At fifty years of age, with two young children, and a substantive professional background, I can no longer serve under the leadership of less capable, less accomplished, less intelligent and, I’m sorry to say, often less morally upright individuals. Purcellville may well be my final station before heaven – my last home and my last professional endeavor. Deeply rooted in this community, I am the only sworn member of the Purcellville Police Department who resides within town limits. My children attend Emerick Elementary; my wife is a member of and active participant in the PTO; I previously sat on the Board of Directors of my HOA and I hold memberships in the local Sons of the American Legion and the Blue Ridge Eagles. As Vice Mayor, recently elected to a four-year term, I have the unique distinction of determining the police department budget and, with that, the authority to directly address many of the issues negatively impacting our department.”

“I would like to begin working with you as closely as possible in order to learn from your valuable experience as a former Chief, mitigate my own shortcomings and knowledge gaps, and also share with you my unique insights into the Department as both an Officer, an aggrieved party with potential pending civil litigation, and Vice Mayor.”

“I previously shared with you a lengthy timeline of events related to unlawful retaliation and other petty harassments I have been subjected to since exercising my rights as a citizen, under Virginia law, to engage in local governance. The stress of this punitive and retaliatory action has impacted my health, my marriage, and my children. Much of this – certainly everything that has occurred since I made the motion to appoint Kwasi Fraser as Interim Town Manager at the January 8, 2025, Town Council meeting – could have been avoided if I had then exercised the political power available to me, insisting that I be named Chief of Police at that time. After many robust discussions on the issue, it was agreed that the best course of action, politically, was to put the future of the Purcellville Police Department in the hands of an independent consultant. As it became clear that Deputy Chief Lombrana and LT. Mike Holman – both non-resident newcomers to the Purcellville Police Department – were intent on terminating me at all costs, prior to any organizational restructuring, I suggested that another member of the Purcellville Police Department be named as Interim Chief in order to gain control of this rogue department. Sgt. Ray Starkey, my first choice, respectfully declined because – and I take this as a great compliment – he admitted he isn’t as tough as me and couldn’t weather the public storm.” “My second choice, Sgt. David Camp, initially agreed to take on the responsibility as Interim Chief, but recanted almost immediately thereafter for the same reasons.”

“I have always believed that promotions – especially those within a small organization – should come from within. That includes the Chief of Police position. While some might balk at the suggestion of an Officer being promoted to Chief, I note that I am not the average Officer.“

“My professional journey began with the terrorist attack on our country September 11, 2001 -9/11. “ “Exactly one year later, on September 11 of 2002, I found myself al the Pentagon as an Early Entry Traince with the Secret Service, working Project Phoenix – the rededication of the Pentagon by President George W. Bush. I went on to graduate first in my class from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, and first in my class from the United States Secrel Service Academy, known as the James J. Rowley Training Center, in Beltsville, Maryland. I spent nearly six years in the Secret Service as a Federal Officer, with assignments 10 the Dignitary Protective Division and the Presidential Protective Division. Thereafter, I was recruited onto a contract with the Central Intelligence Agency and spent the next few years supporting the National Clandestine Service, to include warzone assignment in Afghanistan, working alongside Special Operations Forces and my NSA counterparts in furtherance of actionable intelligence and operational leads. In 2011, owing to my experience as both a law enforcement officer and an Intelligence Officer, I was asked to serve as the founding member and original Director of the Military Commissions Privilege Team at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I supported that mission for over a decade and, in 2022, not long after moving to Purcellville, began a second career with the Purcellville Police Department. Twenty years removed from my first paramilitary academies, I again graduated first in class — this time from the largest class in the history of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in Ashburn, Virginia. In 2023, I received the Sheriff’s Meritorious Action Award as the co-lead investigator and arresting Officer of a juvenile illegal alien, intercepted as he was about to board a school bus bound for Blue Ridge Middle School with a loaded, stolen weapon. As a leading financial crimes investigator, my work led to multiple arrests and the disruption of a nationwide organized theft and money laundering network. Along the way, I’ve also received a conditional offer of appointment from the FBI as a Special Agent and written and published an anthology of American History endorsed by my late friend, Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima. I hold a BA in History from American Military University and have taken Masters coursework at Liberty University.”

“I would further note that the most recent Purcellville Chief of Police, Barry Dufek, was promoted to that position from Administrative Lieutenant over Deputy Chief Dave Dailey – largely, on the argument that Dufek was a town resident and therefore more vested in the community. Prior to serving as Administrative Lieutenant, Dufek had been hired onto the Department as a “business manager” – after coming from the Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a Sergeant, before a falling out with Sheriff Chapman.”

“As a former Director of one of the most sensitive and politically charged operations of the U.S. Government, overseeing budget and staffing levels comparable to that of the Purcellville Police Department, I operated by the principle of “whole-person hiring.” I considered not only the candidate’s qualifications, but also their personality, motivations, and aspirations. It’s important that they fit the “culture” of the existing environment. I also operated by the principle that A’s hire A’s and B’s hire C’s (and often a few D’s). I embrace and value excellence in others and am eager to recognize superior performance. As an active learner, I am not threatened by others who possess more knowledge or expertise in a given subject matter. During the last eight years of my tenure with the Military Commissions Privilege Team, after weeding out underperformers and malcontents hired by others as I was starting up operations al GTMO, I operated by these same principles and built a tight-knit cohesive team with an attrition rate of zero. I’m confident that I can, in short order, make the Purcellville Police Department a destination job for law enforcement professionals in northern Virginia. I have the passion, ingenuity, unique power of appropriation, and genuine love for people of good will. I am committed to providing quality service to our businesses and residents, unleashing our Officers to be proactive guardians of our community and maintaining Purcellville’s status as one of the safest towns in Virginia. My favorite search warrant return, to date, was a text message on a cell phone, as follows: “Man, just be careful is all I’m sayin’. Purcellville PD seems horny to do shit lately.” After a year of being “retired on duty” because of the political witch hunt being conducted against me, I am indeed “horny to do shit” again. I know that I am not alone.”

“My motivations for wanting to lead PPD do NOT include a desire to further résumé build and thereafter seek a Chief position with a larger agency. As noted, Purcellville is likely my final stop. I live seven tenths of a mile from the current police station, routinely transport my children to and from school in my police car, and stop in at my residence to have lunch with my wife Time with my family and overall quality of life is more important to me than a quest for more dollars. An enhanced quality of life is what I want for our personnel as well – and end to pay disparity, more competitive pay with surrounding jurisdictions, a restoration of the compensatory leave bank, individual cruiser assignments, and the building of a new police station on town-owned property. I, as Vice Mayor, unlike any other potential Chief, have the power to bring those goals to fruition. As the head of our Department, I would certainly have the motivation.”

“I am prepared to lead on day one – with humility, recognizing that many of my subordinates will be more experienced Virginia law enforcement Officers and more knowledgeable than 1 on certain issues. I, as a Rookie Officer, was certainly more knowledge than the two previous PPD Chiefs I worked under – despite their decades of experience – when it came to certain complex issues such as telecommunications search warrants, and some simple community issues like water theft reports. Police work, as you know, is very much a team sport with individuals specializing in a few areas, whether because of interest or repetition, and reaching out to colleagues for assistance on matters that match their particular skill set. With that, however, I’m certainly an advocate of building redundancy within the department – ensuring the continuity of essential operations through cross-training and maintaining regular communication. I reject the generic and mostly disingenuous “open door policy” speech given by supervisors, instead viewing it as my obligation to knock on the doors of my subordinates and engage them on not only a professional, but also a personal level. I want, and need, my fellow law enforcement professionals to be willing to risk their lives for me – and me for them. With that, our General Orders should serve as a guidepost reflecting the spirit of our organization and promoting good order – not a hammer to bludgeon personnel, leading to timidity, inaction, mistrust, insecurity, and ill will.”

Below are some of Ben Nett’s  suggested changes to the Purcellville Police Department:

“Henceforward, the following changes to PPD are offered for consideration:

1. Reduce the authorized force level from 22 to 17

2. Reduce command staff from four to three – a Chief of Police, a newly created Captain position to serve as the overall Operations Commander, and an Administrative Lieutenant who shall also serve as the Accreditation Manager and PIO.

3. Eliminate the civilian Accreditation Manager/PIO position, owing to the responsibility shift to the Admin Lieutenant.

4. Eliminate the Deputy Chief position (a position created in 2017 because the Chief at that time was suing two of her Sergeants).

5. Eliminate the Operations Lieutenant position due to the creation of the Captain position, incorporating those responsibilities.

6. Add a Detective position with a flex schedule

7. Reduce the Officer corps from 10 to 8.

8. Reduce the Sergeant corps from 6 to 4.”

This email has sparked a larger conversation about the ethical implications of Nett’s dual roles and the potential impacts on the Purcellville Police Department and local governance.

Purcellville News reached out to all Town Council Members and the Interim Town Manager for comment on the following question: “Could you please provide a comment on the implications of this email for the integrity of our local governance?” Kevin Wright responded, “I was unaware of any such email until today when contacted by another news agency requesting comment.”