Fairfax County Police Department News

Fairfax County, VA- Assistant Chief Robert A. Blakley will retire from the Fairfax County Police Department after more than two decades of dedicated service and has been appointed as Deputy County Executive for the Safe and Secure Community quadrant of government in Prince William County. Following an extensive national search, Prince William County Executive Chris Shorter selected Blakley for the role, where he will begin on April 13, 2026.

Blakley joined the Fairfax County Police Department in 2002 and served in numerous leadership roles throughout his career, including Patrol Supervisor, Station Commander, Bureau Commander, and Deputy Chief. For nearly five years he has served as the Assistant Chief of Operations, where he oversaw patrol and special operations across the department and developed major initiatives focused on public safety, organizational performance, and community engagement. Earlier in his career, he also served as Commander of the Traffic Division, Commander of the Resource Management Bureau and Commander of Patrol Bureau II. Blakley also served on the NCR-IMT, a Type III Incident Management Team capable of deploying large-scale incidents throughout the United States and internationally. Prior to joining FCPD, Blakley started his law enforcement career as a State Trooper with the Virginia State Police.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Blakley holds a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police, and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Professional Executive Leadership School.

The Fairfax County Police Department thanks Assistant Chief Blakley for his decades of leadership and service to the Fairfax County community and wishes him continued success in retirement and in his new role serving the residents of Prince William County.