DUMFRIES, Va. — Police, family, and friends descended on a church today on Va. 234 near Dumfries to mourn the passing and honor the life of an assistant police chief.
Asst. Chief Gerald “Jerry” Tolson passed away from cancer Nov. 19. A college spokeswoman said Tolson recently visited a doctor was informed he had about a week to live.
More in a press release from the college:
On November 19, 2012, Gerald “Jerry” Tolson, our Assistant Chief of Police at Northern Virginia Community College, passed away after a brief illness.
Jerry spent his life in public service to Northern Virginia. He served as a police officer in both Dumfries and Quantico VA., deputy in Stafford County VA., Dispatcher in Prince William County, VA., Chief of Police in Quantico. VA., a firefighter, a rescue diver, and an emergency medical technician. At the time of his death, Jerry was serving as the Assistant Chief of Police at NOVA.
He leaves behind a wife, Kathy, and three children.
Jerry will be greatly missed throughout the Northern Virginia law enforcement and public responder communities.
Tolson worked at the college’s Annandale Campus. A burial was scheduled today at Mt. Zion Baptist Church today at 11 a.m. He was scheduled to be buried at Cedar Run Cemetery afterward in Prince William County.
Prince William County police were on hand this afternoon to help direct traffic, said drivers in the area.
