Lisa Sedlak Portfolio

On March 1 after 30 years with the Blacksburg Police Department, Chief Kimberley Crannis

is retiring. After graduating from Ferrum College with a degree in Public Administration, Chief Crannis started living her childhood dream of becoming an officer when she was hired by the Blacksburg Police Department in January of 1984.

During her 30 years with the department, she moved up the ranks from patrol officer to detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. After Chief William Brown retired in 2006, Grannis was hired as Chief of Police.

When serving as captain, Crannis started the Citizens Police Academy as a part of her Masters work at Virginia Tech As chief, she increased the amount of officers and staff in the police department, added three K-9 officers, and updated the department’s technology infrastructure. Crannis is particularly proud of her the collaborative relationship with other police departments

in the area. The collaboration of Blacksburg. Christiansburg, Montgomery County, and Virginia Tech has led to the formation of a regional 911 system set to begin in 2015. 

“I have spent my entire career working in a great organization with great people,” said Chief Crannis.”I Iove it here. But I set my retirement date in the early 90s and am looking forward to the next phase of my life, moving to the eastern part of Virginia to work on my golf game and ride my motorcycle.”

Chief Crannis has worked throughout her career to build the strong professional culture that exists in our police department today,” said Town Manager Marc Verniel. “Under her leadership, the department has maintained national accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) further demonstrating its commitment of professionalism and community service. She will be greatly missed by all of her colleagues at the Town of Blacksburg, her friends in law enforcement, and the citizens of Blacksburg.”

The Chief of Police position was advertised locally, statewide and in a few national publications. The applications will be reviewed, and qualified candidates will be selected for the initial interview phase which will begin in late January. The interview panels will consist of local law enforcement officials, Blacksburg citizens, business leaders, and representatives from the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. The town hopes to have a new police chief hired by March 1.