A HOME RUN IN HAYMARKET: Five Battlefield baseball players sign with colleges, Page 9.
December 2, 2020 | Vol. 19, No. 49 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
See PrinceWilliamTimes.com for coronavirus updates
Supervisors cite experience in police chief pick D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham hired to lead Prince William police By Daniel Berti
Times Staff Writer
COURTESY PHOTO
D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham will be Prince William County next police chief.
In an unexpected move that’s already drawing some criticism, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors picked Washington D.C. Metro Police Chief Peter Newsham to be the county’s next police chief despite rising tensions between Newsham and the D.C. City Council. The supervisors voted 7-1 to hire Newsham during a closed session meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Newsham is the first police chief hired outside of the county’s own police department. He will replace acting Prince William County Police Chief Jarad Phelps on Feb. 1 and will earn an annual salary of $215,000, according to Prince William County officials. Newsham said Wednesday he is eligible to retire from his D.C. post and will collect his pension while working for Prince William County. Supervisor Margaret Franklin, D-Woodbridge, was the sole vote against Newsham’s hiring. Supervisor Andrea Bailey, D-Potomac, also said
Newsham was not her first choice but said she voted in favor of his hiring in an act of unity with her fellow board members. Bailey and other supervisors who could be reached for comment spoke highly of Newsham’s extensive experience with the D.C. Metro police department despite his disagreements with the D.C. City Council’s recent police reform efforts. The city council voted unanimously in July to cut $15 million from the metro police department’s budget, a move Newsham opposed. In an interview last week, Newsham said he had “really no resistance” to the D.C. City Council’s police reform efforts and that his concerns stemmed mostly from the police budget cuts. “I’m very concerned about a reduction in the size of the police [budget] because that’s going to require us to reduce the size of the police department pretty dramatically. I was concerned about that. I voiced my concern,” Newsham said. See NEWSHAM, page 2
This year, Santa Claus is coming to Zoom, Facebook By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
Note: It is the policy of the Prince William Times not to reveal the identity of any Santa Claus we may interview. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a crimp in Santa Claus’s style. He can’t touch the children or welcome kids onto his lap. “I can’t go from one house to another,” he said. “There might be germs in my beard!” But the big guy is nothing if not adaptable. Santa follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations of wearing a mask and washing hands and has instructed the elves to sing the ABC song twice while washing their hands.
The “Warrenton Santa,” as he is known, will not be able to visit children at homes or businesses this year, but he’ll offer video chats over Zoom, stories over Facebook and phone calls and letters and/or “nice” certificates from Santa. Special events will be held as well. For instance, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, Santa will appear at “Christmas Through the Ages,” in the parking lot of Piney Branch Elementary School in Bristow. The free drive-thru event, sponsored by New Life Christian Church, features Christmas light display, treats for the children and of course, Santa. See SANTA, page 4 INSIDE Classifieds...........................................13 Lifestyle................................................4 Obituaries...........................................11 Opinion.................................................7
PHOTO BY TERESA ARTHUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Kids can watch “Warrenton Santa” read stories every afternoon at 4 p.m. via Facebook. Public Safety.........................................7 Real Estate..........................................10 Shop Local: Old Town Manassas......8 Sports...................................................9
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