CAC Meeting—Teen Alcohol and Drug Use

Last month, the theme “Alcohol and Drugs” was presented with several guest speakers. This month, the Citizens Advisory Committee will continue with Part II of the discussion.

Mr. Kyle Guthrie and Fairfax County Police Sergeant Jim Cox will speak.         

Mr. Guthrie will share his story publicly for the first time about his ordeal the night of July 18-19, 2010.  For those that recall, Mr. Guthrie and four Westfield HS friends were traveling in a pick-up truck in Loudoun Co.  Several of the youths in the back of the truck had fireworks. During the horseplay, one kid jumped from the bed of the truck, struck his head, and later died.  Mr. Guthrie was later charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter.  Hopefully, the audience will glean from this “Making the Right Choices.”  Mrs. Jan Guthrie will also conclude with some comments.

Sergeant Jim Cox will speak about more about drugs, types of drugs in the community and what indicators parents can look for with their own children.

Sergeant James A. Cox III began his career in law enforcement in 1983 by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps and serving as a Military Police Officer until 1987.  Sergeant Cox joined the Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1988.  Sergeant Cox was first assigned as a Patrol Officer at the Mount Vernon District Station.  In 1990 Sergeant Cox was selected as a member on an elite Select Enforcement Team targeting burglaries and robberies.  In 1994 Sergeant Cox was selected from a group of candidates to the Department’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Division as an undercover detective.  Sergeant Cox took over the Asset Forfeiture detective position in 1999. 

In 2001 Sergeant Cox was promoted to his current rank of Sergeant. In 2004, Sergeant Cox was requested to become the squad supervisor of the newly formed Special Investigations/Narcotics Money Laundering Unit. SIN/MLU is responsible for all the forfeitures for the Fairfax County Police Department.  This elite unit has seized millions of dollars, prosecuted cases on Federal RICCO statutes, and has aided Departmental Investigations for further identification of assets and has successfully seized those assets. 

Sergeant Cox continues as the lead instructor for drug identification, its laws and enforcement for the Department as well as community groups.  Sergeant Cox continues to testify as an expert witness in the field of illegal drugs for United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Fairfax County General and Circuit Court of Fairfax County. 

Please attend and hear these important messages. We encourage parents to bring their children. Any questions, email Lt. John S. Trace @john.trace@fairfaxcounty.gov