Colonel V. Stuart Cook, Sheriff, Hanover County, Virginia
Colonel V. Stuart Cook was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 9, 1943 and has been a life-long resident of the Richmond area. He has spent the last 37 years in Hanover County. He attended elementary school and high school in the City and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Masters Degree in Administration of Justice and Public Safety. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.
Colonel Cook joined the Richmond Bureau of Police on June 21, 1965, and worked his way through the promotional system to the rank of Major. While at the Richmond Bureau of Police, he worked in every Division and served as Deputy Chief of Investigative Operations for 12 years. The Investigative Operations Division included the Juvenile Division, Vice/Narcotics Division, Detective Division, and the Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Support and Street Crimes Divisions. In 1970, he assisted in the formation of the Bureau's Task Force; in 1972 he established the Internal Affairs Division where he was assigned the first Officer-in-Charge; and in 1973 he was instrumental in establishing the Bureau's SWAT Team.
Colonel Cook was appointed to serve on the adjunct faculty at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in 1981 where he served on staff, and taught Police Science for nine years. He is presently on the Advisory Board for Curriculum Development at the Community College for the Criminal Justice Program, and also serves on the Board of Directors at Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy.
In 1983, Stuart was appointed as an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University where he taught in the Administration of Justice Program for ten years. He served on the Board of Directors for the Hanover Adult Care Center, and is currently on the Honorary Board. He is a member of the Hanover Ruritans, the Mechanicsville Businessmen's Association, and the Metro Lodge #11 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Colonel Cook is married, has three children who were raised and educated in Hanover County, and he also has five grandsons.
Colonel Cook was appointed Sheriff of Hanover County by Judge Richard H. C. Taylor on August 2, 1990. He ran unopposed for election in November, 1991, November, 1995, and again, in November, 1999.