Since opening our doors more than 13 years ago, the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation has had the privilege of working with some of the best law enforcement trainers and subject matter experts in Virginia and throughout the United States.  It is with the dedication and support of this critical team of professionals that we continue to fulfill our mission of advancing public safety by providing unparalleled training and services for law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve.  It is in recognition of that fact that VCPI extends our gratitude to our cadre of instructors and recognizes one who has exemplified our commitment to excellence each year.
 
We are honored to announce the 2010 VCPI Instructor of the Year Award recipient, Chief Chris Perkins.  Chris has been a police officer for 18 years with the City of Roanoke Police Department.  During his tenure, he has been assigned to Uniform Patrol, Community Policing, Vice, Accreditation, Criminal Investigations, and the Operations Division as Deputy Chief.  On October 13, 2010, Chris was appointed as Chief of Police, and his responsibilities include supervision of the Operations and Services Divisions of the Police Department. 
 
Since 2007, Chris has provided more than 100 hours of energetic classroom instruction to hundreds of law enforcement, local and state government, and emergency management professionals throughout the Commonwealth and across the nation.  He consistently represents both VCPI and the city of Roanoke with the utmost professionalism and integrity. 
 
In addition to his tremendous commitment of classroom instructional time, Chris also provides customized course design and development, as well as continual curriculum development assistance for many of VCPI’s most highly requested programs: Patrol Drug Interdiction; Advanced Search and Seizure; Searches of Electronic Media and Computers; and Creating and Maintaining Excellence in your Police Agency. 
 
In 2010, Chris represented VCPI and our partner organization, the Western Community Policing Institute, Western Oregon University, as a national instructor for the leadership program Scenario-Based Executive Level Training, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Most recently, Chris was selected to become a certified trainer for the national program Franklin Covey’s Diversity Centered Leadership for Law Enforcement, provided by the Carolinas Institute for Community Policing in Greenville, South Carolina, through funding by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  
 
Feedback provided by participants completing courses instructed by Chris reflects both his depth of knowledge and his easy style of instruction that quickly enable him to connect with other law enforcement professionals:   
 
"How refreshing to have an instructor to teach this topic that is energetic, knowledgeable and interesting. An instructor who has great volume and willing to accept audience participation."
 
"Instructor was not just knowledgeable and intelligent, but extremely articulate, engaging and interactive."
 
"The instructor demonstrated the highest standards of knowledge and professional skill. The information was timely, relevant, and beneficial to the law enforcement profession."
 
Chris has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, a Master’s degree from Hollins University, and a Graduate Certificate from the University of Virginia.  He is an alumnus of the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, the Professional Executive Leadership School, the National Criminal Justice Command College and FBI National Academy.  His professional affiliations include Virginia Homicide Investigators Association, Professional Executive Leadership School Alumni Association, Blue Ridge Chiefs of Police, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police – Member of the IACP Police Investigative Operations Committee, and the FBI National Academy Associates.
 
Congratulations Chief Chris Perkins and thank you for your commitment to advancing public safety!