WHEREAS, Lieutenant Lamuel Scott Prater, a dedicated law-enforcement officer with the Smyth County Sheriff's Office, died on May 24, 2024; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his 29-year career in law enforcement, Scott Prater served and protected the Smyth County community in various roles and leadership positions; and

WHEREAS, Scott Prater began his career as a part-time jailer, then became a patrol deputy and later proudly served as a school resource officer at Chilhowie Middle School and Chilhowie High School; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Scott Prater joined the investigations department and became the only dedicated narcotics investigator in the Smyth County Sheriff's Office at the time; he developed a wealth of institutional knowledge and was a vital resource and trusted mentor to his fellow deputies; and

WHEREAS, Scott Prater served on a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force that resulted in several convictions and was one of the first police officers in the region certified as a clandestine laboratory investigator; he was often consulted for advice on dismantling drug labs, a complex and potentially dangerous process; and

WHEREAS, after 14 years as an investigator, Scott Prater returned to working as a school resource officer and further inspired young people as a baseball coach and volleyball referee at Chilhowie High School; and

WHEREAS, Scott Prater will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Angela; his daughters, Jordan and Madison; his parents, Eddie and Jean; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Lieutenant Lamuel Scott Prater, a distinguished law-enforcement officer and respected member of the Smyth County community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Lieutenant Lamuel Scott Prater as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.