Read the full stored bill text
Commending Ryan M. Zuidema.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 26, 2026
WHEREAS, Ryan M. Zuidema, an esteemed law-enforcement officer and distinguished community leader, retired from his role as the chief of police of the Lynchburg Police Department to assume a new position as the chief of police for the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, on September 5, 2025; and
WHEREAS, since joining the Lynchburg Police Department in 1997, Ryan Zuidema supported a variety of operations and rose through several leadership positions until he was appointed chief of police in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Ryan Zuidema's accomplishments during his tenure as chief of police in Lynchburg include the implementation of a body camera program, the expansion of mental wellness protocols for officers, the cultivation of greater community partnerships through various outreach efforts, and the opening of a new department headquarters; his leadership proved vital over the years to developing crime-reduction strategies, enhancing officer training, and promoting citizen engagement; and
WHEREAS, beyond his police work, Ryan Zuidema made an impact in the community as an adjunct professor at Liberty University's Helms School of Government and through his service on the boards of the Jubilee Family Development Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia, CASA of Central Virginia, the Bedford County Public Schools Safety Advisory Team, and the Exchange Club of Lynchburg, as well as the Leadership Council of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Ryan Zuidema was notably selected as a fellow in the inaugural class of the Civil Society Fellowship with the Aspen Institute; he has also encouraged ethical leadership and public service nationally as a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network; and
WHEREAS, through his unwavering commitment to transparency, professionalism, and community trust, Ryan Zuidema has helped to make Lynchburg a safer and more wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Ryan M. Zuidema hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement from the Lynchburg Police Department; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ryan M. Zuidema as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his legacy of service and best wishes in his future endeavors.