Leesburg Police Department Introduces Newest K-9

K-9 Elmore & Officer Brickley

Leesburg, VA – The Leesburg Police Department is proud to report that Elmore, our newest K-9 and his handler, Officer Lelia Brickley, have successfully graduated their basic K-9 handler course.

Elmore, a 1 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, came to us as a result of an anonymous $15,000.00 donation which was made by a local family in memory of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Charles W. Elmore, to cover the costs of the purchase and training of our newest K-9. Elmore has received training in patrol duties, which includes but is not limited to, tracking missing persons. Elmore has also been cross trained in drug detection (excluding marijuana). Officer Brickley has been with the Leesburg Police Department for more than 3 years, and looks forward to patrolling with her new partner.

Upon consultation with the anonymous donor family, the Leesburg Police Department chose to name our newest K-9 in memory of FBI Special Agent Charles W. Elmore. Special Agent Elmore paid the ultimate sacrifice on August 9, 1979, when he and FBI Agents John Oliver and Robert Porter were shot to death at the El Centro, California FBI Field Office by a gunman who then took his own life.

“I am excited to welcome Elmore to the LPD family. Working together, K9 Elmore and Officer Brickley will assist in serving and protecting our community through such tasks as locating missing juveniles, as well as locating those experiencing cognitive impairments who become lost,” advised Leesburg Chief of Police Gregory Brown. “I also want the community to know that true heroes are never forgotten. We honor the memory of FBI Special Agent Charles Elmore through our newest K-9 team member.”

Additional information about FBI Special Agent Elmore can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/history/wall-of-honor/charles-w-elmore.