County supervisors on Tuesday (Feb. 13) honored Fairfax County Police Department personnel for providing support at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“We can’t forget the people who were wearing the uniform that day, defending democracy,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the presentation, which honored the police personnel from the county who responded when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
While there were no serious physical injuries among the Fairfax contingent on hand, McKay said that was only part of the story.
“There’s a lot of trauma associated with this,” he said. “Let us not forget the personal sacrifice.”
Most of the local officers dispatched to the Capitol came from the county’s Civil Disturbance Unit. Accepting the resolution on their behalf was FCPD Major Brendan Hooke.
“When the call came, some 50 of our officers answered,” Hooke said. “We will be there again if we’re ever needed.”
McKay’s resolution won unanimous support, with Republican Pat Herrity of Springfield District joining the nine Democrats.
“I thank you for stepping up,” he said to the officers involved.
There would’ve been a larger contingent from the Civil Disturbance Unit on hand to accept the resolution at the Jan. 13 presentation, but a number of officers were dispatched to handle a protest occurring that morning at Capital One’s headquarters campus in Tysons.
McKay had brought the resolution to his colleagues for discussion in December. At the Jan. 13 meeting, he said he had been hesitant to do so, but acted in part because the event’s fifth anniversary occurred last week and in part because of what he termed the “despicable, wholesale pardoning” of many participants by President Donald Trump in early 2025.
Trump’s action created further trauma among officers who still had physical and emotional scars from defending the Capitol that day, McKay said.
In other action at the Jan. 13 meeting:
Smith again to serve as vice chair
Supervisors voted unanimously to have Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith continue serving as the board’s vice chair for 2026.
The vice chair presides over the Board in the absence of the chairman and fills additional duties.
“They’re not sexy but they need to happen,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said of the vice chair’s responsibilities.
Smith was nominated by Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck. While not always agreeing with her politically, he said “it is a great honor and pleasure to work with her.”
Sizemore Heizer participates in first meeting
The Jan. 13 Board of Supervisors meeting was the first for newly elected Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer.
Sizemore Heizer was elected in December to fill the remainder of the term vacated by James Walkinshaw, who was elected to Congress in September following the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11).
“It’s good to have a full Board again,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said.
Sizemore Heizer said she will host an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Braddock District office (9002 Burke Lake Road) near Kings Park.
“Drop in any time” during the two-hour window, said Sizemore Heizer, who represented the district on the Fairfax County School Board prior to her election as a county supervisor.
Georgetown Pike bridge could be named for community leader
County supervisors requested state approval to rename a Georgetown Pike bridge in honor of longtime civic leader John J. Adams.
Adams, who died last April at 90, was co-founder of McLean Trees and president of the Georgetown Pike & Potomac River Association. They were just a few of the local organizations he supported since his family’s move to McLean in 1965.
As a founding member of the Georgtown Pike & Potomac River Association, Adams collaborated with others to preserve the 336-acre Burling tract in 1969 for what would become Scott’s Run Park.
Working with the Board of Supervisors, the group also advocated for the Virginia General Assembly to establish a “Scenic and Historical Byway” designation for historic roads. Georgetown Pike became the first road in the state to carry that recognition in 1974 “due in large part to the efforts of Mr. Adams,” Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman said in his proposal for the bridge naming.
“Even after obtaining this designation, Mr. Adams spent a significant amount of time negotiating with developers, elected officials and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to prevent alterations that would damage the historic integrity of Georgetown Pike,” Bierman continued. “Mr. Adams also worked to preserve significant trees on Georgetown Pike wherever possible.”
An attorney who served as managing partner of Hunton & Williams, Adams reduced his legal duties at age 60 so he and his wife Barbara could travel the world while staying active in local civic life.
Supervisors voted unanimously to forward the request for renaming the bridge over Difficult Run in honor of Adams. Final action is expected later this year by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
