Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Woody

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Woody began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in March 1987, when he was hired as a patrol deputy. He completed his basic training at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, where he graduated at the top of his class. Within three years he was assigned to the Crash Team and, shortly afterwards, the K-9 Unit. 

Lt. Col. Woody was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1995 and assigned to the Patrol Division. In 1997 he was transferred to the Investigative Division and assigned to the Street Crimes Unit. He oversaw many successful covert operations that included homicides, robberies, sexual assaults, property crimes and wanted subjects. His unit received awards for excellent service and commendations, both internally and from other area agencies. He was promoted to the rank of command sergeant in 2001 and reassigned to the Patrol Division. In 2002 he was appointed to the rank of lieutenant and remained in patrol until his assignment to the Training and Personnel Unit in 2003. 

In 2005 he was promoted to captain and assigned to the Patrol Division, where he oversaw daily operations and managed all special teams as well as the Youth Services Unit. He was appointed to the rank of major in April 2009 and continued to oversee the Patrol Division through August 2018. In September 2018, he was reassigned to the Investigative Division.  In February 2020, he was appointed to the rank of lieutenant colonel and serves as Colonel Hines’s chief of staff.

Lt. Col. Woody completed an associate’s degree in Administration of Justice from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He continued his education with Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and the University of Richmond. He completed the Institute of Leadership in Changing Times (ILCT) at Virginia Tech and the University of Richmond’s Professional Executive Leadership School – both supported by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Lt. Col. Woody resides in Mechanicsville with his wife Bonnie. They have three children and five grandchildren.  He enjoys outdoor exercise, golf, and tennis.