Lieutenant Southard - Patrol Commander

Lt. Southard began his law enforcement career in 2013 as a member of the Town of Culpeper Law Enforcement Explorer Program. During his tenure in the program through 2019, he advanced through the ranks to the position of Captain. He consistently contributed over 100 hours of community service annually and was honored as the 2019 Citizen of the Year, receiving the Public Safety Award.

While maintaining full-time employment in the food distribution industry, Lt. Southard remained actively involved in the Explorer Program and pursued higher education at Germanna Community College. He earned an Associate’s degree in Administration of Justice, Police Science, and Career Studies.

In 2019, Lt. Southard joined the Fredericksburg Police Department and attended the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy. He was subsequently hired by the Colonial Beach Police Department in 2021.

During his service with the Colonial Beach Police Department, Lt. Southard has held the roles of Police Officer, Field Training Supervisor, Sergeant, and currently serves as Lieutenant of Patrol Operations. He holds certifications as a Field Training Officer (FTO), School Resource Officer (SRO), Naloxone (Narcan) Instructor, and Taser Instructor through Axon. Additionally, he serves as a Law Enforcement Exploring Post Advisor, is a Civilian Response to Casualty Care (CRCC) Instructor, and has completed Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Level I for active shooter response.