Fairfax County Sheriff honors deputy from Lake Ridge for distinguished service career

Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid presented her agency’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to Captain William Friedman of Woodbridge, VA,  a 19-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. Before joining the agency, Friedman served 12 years in the Army, on both active and reserve duty.

“Captain Friedman is the type of Sheriff’s deputy that colleagues want to emulate,” said Kincaid. “He’s not only well-respected by his staff, but also well-liked. They relate to him because he cares.”

In his early years as a deputy sheriff, Friedman worked in the Adult Detention Center where he stood out as a field training instructor. He also joined the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard team, bringing with him the experience he had gained as a member of The Old Guard, the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president.

“It was no surprise that he eventually became the commander of our Honor Guard,” said Kincaid. “He reorganized the team and took training to a new level. As a result, our team has won numerous regional and national awards for its performance and decorum.”

As he rose through the ranks, Friedman worked in civil enforcement and then human resources, initiating new programs and guiding his staff to reach their potential. In 2010, he was put in charge of a confinement squad with more than 70 deputies.

At the time, the agency was making a change in how its four squads operated. Historically, each squad worked 12.5 hour shifts and rotated monthly from the day shift to the night shift. In response to staff feedback and numerous studies on how sleep patterns affected wellness, the agency kept two rotating squads but made the third squad permanent days and the fourth permanent nights. Friedman became the leader of the night shift.

“He made the transition as smooth as possible for his squad, and they thrived under his leadership,” said Kincaid. “He initiated a family night so that deputies could bring their loved ones to work and see first-hand how the agency operates.”

In 2013, Friedman was transferred to the Internal Affairs Office, evidence of the respect and trust he has earned within the agency. He is credited with modernizing the office to meet current industry standards and practices. He also focused on improving communication between his office and agency staff while dealing with a variety of unique and difficult investigations.

Recently, Friedman was promoted to captain and assigned as chief of Courthouse security.

Throughout his career, Friedman has been outgoing and approachable, according to his colleagues. He turns his experience and knowledge into learning opportunities for others. Kincaid says she is proud to call him a colleague and a friend. “He epitomizes our core values of honor, courage and service.”