BLACKSBURG – After 26 years with the department, Blacksburg Police Chief Todd Brewster has announced that he will retire in July.
Brewster, a graduate of Radford University, began his career with the Town of Blacksburg as a volunteer with the Blacksburg Fire Department in 1995. While volunteering with the fire department, Brewster was hired as a driver for Blacksburg Transit before being hired as a Communications Officer in the dispatch center for the police department in 1997. In 1999, he transitioned from dispatch into the ranks of the police department as an officer. He continued to advance in his career with the department, working as sergeant and lieutenant while supervising the Accident Reconstruction Team and serving as the DMV Grant Coordinator.
Brewster was promoted to Police Services Captain in Nov. 2020, where he was responsible for the criminal investigations unit, accreditation, community outreach, recruiting and hiring and the training unit. In July of 2022, he was appointed to his current position as Chief of Police. In 2023, Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Brewster to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management 9-1-1 Services Board. In addition to serving on the 9-1-1 Services Board, he is also chairman of the PSAP Grant Committee.
Brewster, a recipient of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation’s Lifesaving Award, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a member of the FBI National Academy Associates; a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police; and serves as the Vice-President for the Blue Ridge Association of Chiefs of Police. He is originally from Tazewell, Va.
As a new Chief, Brewster led the department as it transitioned out of the COVID pandemic. Brewster had many accomplishments during this time, but the one he’s most proud of is the implementation and development of the Crime Analyst Program. This program not only operates for the Blacksburg Police Department but regionally assists other agencies with tracking crime trends across Southwest Virginia. The program has become so successful that it has been recognized by the FBI National Academy and other organizations throughout the country.
“I moved to Blacksburg in 1994 to attend Radford University and fell in love with the area,” said Brewster. “I came from a small town and Blacksburg had everything I was looking for. I have served the citizens of this town for over 30 years, and I have enjoyed every second of it. There have been challenging times, but through it all, I have felt such support from the Town of Blacksburg and our community. To the town council, Town Manager Marc Verniel, and the citizens of Blacksburg, I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve this community.”
In retirement, Brewster says he looks forward to spending more time with his wife and son, and their relatives in Tazewell.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career in Blacksburg, but time goes by quickly,” said Brewster. “I’ve been away from my family for the past 30 years and I look forward to making up for lost time.”
“I want to thank Chief Brewster for his more than 30 years of dedicated service to the Town of Blacksburg and its citizens,” said Verniel. “His love for this community is evident in every interaction he has. It has been an honor to work alongside him as both a colleague and a friend. I wish Todd and his family all the best as they begin this new chapter in retirement.”
The recruitment process for the next Blacksburg Chief of Police is underway.
Town of Blacksburg
