Radford City Commonwealth's Attorney
Chris Rehak
Education, Experience and Specialized Training
While working as a Roanoke County police officer (1992-1996), I became intrigued by the courtroom side of law enforcement. I aspired to become a career prosecutor, went back to college and found my life-calling in this unique position. My specialized training and experience reflect a commitment and investment to better serve Radford by always improving my skills and qualifications.
EDUCATION
Radford University, Radford, Virginia
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice, May 1992
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
Juris Doctorate, May 1999
EXPERIENCE
5/04 - present CITY OF RADFORD, Radford, Virginia
Radford City Commonwealth's Attorney
The elected chief prosecutor bears the full authority and ultimate responsibility for all decisions concerning the prosecution of crime in the City of Radford. As a Constitutional Officer I work closely with other departments in City government, supervise personnel and manage an office budget. Other tasks include caseload management, extraditions, asset forfeiture procedures and search warrant preparation. Provide 24/7 legal advice to law enforcement agencies and well versed in the nuances of Miranda and police protocol involving search and seizure. Also still perform all duties required previously as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney.
7/00 – 4/04 CITY OF RADFORD, Radford, Virginia
Radford City Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
Represent the City and State in criminal prosecutions through the organization and presentation of court trials to a judge or jury. Required to possess an intimate working knowledge of the Constitution, criminal law and mandated sentencing guidelines. Responsibilities include; prioritizing investigations, determining appropriate charges, conducting interviews, bond hearings, preparing witnesses, evidence assessment, responding to appeals, formulating trial strategy and managing plea negotiations.
8/99 - 7/00 SMITH & DAVENPORT, Manassas, Virginia
Assistant City Attorney for Manassas
Performed an assortment of tasks where the principal workload originated from representing the City of Manassas and several townships. Responded to City departments and agencies as legal issues developed. In addition to exposure inside local government, the position provided the unique environment of a private law firm which also prosecuted criminal misdemeanor cases and their related appeals. Served as counsel for private clients involving criminal defense, traffic violations, wills, real estate and personal injury.
5/98 - 5/99 CITY OF DES MOINES LEGAL DEPARTMENT, Des Moines, Iowa
Law clerk
Provided a variety of support functions for seventeen attorneys covering all aspects of law which affect a large municipality. Supplied legal research, prepared motions and legal memoranda, assisted in the discovery process and final preparation of cases in the Litigation Division of the Legal Department. Exposed to legal fields such as; civil liability, civil rights, employment law, governmental immunity, constitutional challenges, zoning, worker’s compensation, police policy, administrative law, condemnation, annexation, utilities and ordinance enforcement.
8/98 - 12/98 POLK COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Des Moines, Iowa
Law clerk / Internship
Acquired hands-on criminal law experience working with the Polk County Prosecutor’s Office. Participated in case development including pre-trial and post-trial hearings. Appeared in court and presented cases including a full jury trial. Served as second-chair during felony drug trials.
5/97 - 5/98 DUNAHOO LAW FIRM, Des Moines, Iowa
Law clerk
Performed legal research, drafted memos, prepared appendixes, proofed briefs, investigated cases, interviewed witnesses and handled disgruntled or inquisitive clients. Conducted daily communication with clients concerning sensitive matters such as case explanations or proposed strategies. Worked with many areas of law including; family law, juvenile law, criminal law, probate, bankruptcy, personal injury and appellate work. Conducted initial client consultations, participated in case assessments, expert witness evaluations and assisted the firm in a successful legal publication endeavor.
8/97 - 12/97 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Des Moines, Iowa
Law clerk / Internship
Provided legal research and writing for the United States Attorney’s Office related to the prosecution and defense of both criminal and civil actions. Participated in case development and preparation covering a wide variety of legal issues that involve the Federal government as a litigant.
3/92 - 8/96 ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, Roanoke, Virginia
Police Officer
Protected life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances prescribed by the County, State and Federal governments. Required the ability to communicate well with diverse populations while investigating criminal activities, traffic accidents, and interviewing complainants, witnesses and suspects. Selected for the Roanoke County Police Department Traffic Unit which included enforcing traffic laws, handling serious personal injury traffic accidents, investigating hit and run cases and preparing extensive detailed investigations, reports and diagrams of accidents involving fatalities. Selected for the Roanoke County Police Department SWAT team, an elite on-call tactical response team trained to resolve life-threatening situations.
SPECIALIZED PROSECUTOR
AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING
Forensic Evidence Today, National District Attorneys Association, Savannah, Georgia, December 2024, three days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Conference, December 2024, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2024, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Fury Road: Investigating and Prosecuting Impaired Fatal Crashes, May 2024, three days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Service Council Spring Institute, April 2024, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Advanced Digital Evidence for Prosecutors, National Computer Forensic Institute, U.S. Secret Service, Hoover, Alabama, April 2024, five days
Red Flag 2024 - Elder Financial Abuse and Insurance Fraud, February 2024, three days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Conference, December 2023, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Gang Investigators Annual Conference, Advanced Gang Training, October 2023, four days
Missing Persons and No-Body Murder Cases - Investigation and Prosecution, August 2023
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2023, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2023, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Conference, December 2022, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2022, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council Spring Institute, April 2022, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2021, three days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2021, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council Spring Institute, April 2021, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, July 2020, two days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council Spring Institute, April 2020, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
CIIFER 2020: Cyber-Attacks, Internet Investigations, Forensic Analysis and Electronic Records, Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council, two days, James Madison University, March 2020
Commonwealth's Attorney's Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2019, three days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2019, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2019, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Drug Overdose Death Investigation and Prosecution Training, National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute, January 8, 2019
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2018, three days
Forensic Interviewing of Children Training, National Children's Advocacy Center, October 2018, five days, Huntsville, Alabama
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2018, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Arson for Prosecutors, National Center for Explosives Training and Research / ATF, May 2018, three days fire cause and origin training, Asheville, N.C.
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2018, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2017, three days
Prosecuting Homicide and Capital Murder Cases, Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, November 2017, five days
Virginia Gang Investigators Annual Conference, Advanced Gang Training, October 2017, four days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2017, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2017, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Prosecuting Economic Crimes, Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, February 2016, four days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2016, three days
Police Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Seminar, Virginia State Police, October 2016
Prosecuting Sexual Assault and Related Crimes, National District Attorneys Association, Savannah, GA, September 2016, five days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys' Annual Conference, August 2016, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
DUID for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement, May 2016, specialized training to combat driving under the influence of drugs
Virginia Crimes Against Children Conference, May 2016, Hampton, Virginia, three days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2016, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2015, three days
Gang Prosecution, Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, September 2015, two days
Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys' Annual Conference, August 2015, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2015, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
John Reid & Associates Interviewing and Interrogation Technique / Child Abuse, October 2014, three days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2014, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Computer Forensics in Court, National Computer Forensic Institute, U.S. Secret Service, Hoover, Alabama, June 2014, five days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2014, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Advanced DUI Training for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement, August 2013, three days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2013, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2013, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2012, three days
Red Flag: Investigation and Prosecution of Insurance Fraud, October 2012, Virginia State Police, four days specialized training
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2012, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2012, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Campus Safety Forum on Sexual Assault, March 2012
Trauma to Trial: Investigating & Prosecuting Adult Non-Stranger Sexual Assault, October 2011, five days specialized training
Investigation and Prosecution of Child Fatalities & Serious Abuse Cases, September 2011, four days specialized training
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2011, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, April 2011, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2010, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2010, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Executive / Management Program, December 2009, three days
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2009, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2009, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
John Reid & Associates Interviewing and Interrogation Technique / Advanced Course, November 2008, five days, Washington, D.C.
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2008, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Career Prosecutor Course, National District Attorneys Association, National College of District Attorneys, University South Carolina School of Law, June 2008, two week course, Charleston, S.C.
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2008, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2007, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2007, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Capital Murder Litigation Program, National District Attorneys Association, October 2006, three days training on capital murder cases
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2006, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2006, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Finding Words: Interviewing Children and Preparing for Court, American Prosecutors Research Institute's National Child Protection Training Center, November 2005, five days, Winona, Minnesota
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2005, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Trial Advocacy for Prosecutors, May 2005, five days, Williamsburg, Virginia
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2005, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2004, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Murder One Program, Investigation and Prosecution of Homicide, July 2004, five days
Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, sentencing guidelines seminar, 2004
Virginia Criminal Information Network re-certification, March 2004
Sworn in Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute federal criminal cases, January 2004
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2004, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2003, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2003, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Criminal Information Network criminal history access training, Sept. 2002
Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, sentencing guidelines seminar, 2002
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2002, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Top Gun Program, Investigation and Prosecution of Drug Cases, May 2002, five days
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2002, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
National Drug Court Institute, Adult Drug Court Planning Initiative 2001, four days Miami, Florida
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2001, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Power Point for Prosecutors, Virginia Western C.C., 2001
Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Spring Institute, March 2001, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys Annual Conference, August 2000, three days prosecutor training and legal updates
Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, sentencing guidelines seminar, September 2000
Street Survival Police Safety Tactics Seminar, 1995
Special Weapons and Tactics Training (SWAT), 1994, Roanoke County Police Department
Mobile Digital Terminal Operator Course, 1994
Commercial Motor Vehicle Law Enforcement Safety Conference, Maryland State Police, 1994
Advanced Accident Investigation and Reconstruction, one week course, V.C.U. Transportation Safety Training Center, 1993
Fundamentals of Accident Investigation and Reconstruction, two week course, V.C.U. Transportation Safety Training Center, 1993
Drug Interdiction Seminar, University of Delaware, 1993
Court Testimony Training, Law Enforcement Development, 1993
Polaroid Training Seminar, Polaroid School of Law Enforcement Imaging, 1993
Breath Alcohol Test Operator Course, 1992
Entry Level Law Enforcement Training, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, March 1992 (eight week police academy)
CITIZENSHIP, ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS
AND ASSOCIATIONS
- Board Member Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, 2017 - 2024
- Reappointed by Virginia Governor to the Commission on Youth, 2020 - 2024
- Appointed by Virginia Governor to the Commission on Youth, September 2016 - 2019
- Board Member Children's Advocacy Centers of Virginia, 2015 - 2022
- Awarded 2015 "Golden Halo" by Children's Trust for child advocacy in the legal field
- Created the Radford High School LEO Club (Junior Lions Club) 2015
- Member Radford Noon Rotary Club, 2013 - 2020
- Member Virginia Criminal Justice Conference (VCJC), 2012 - present
- Member Virginia Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council Curriculum Committee, 2012 - 2015
- Statewide instructor "Trauma to Trial" investigation and prosecution of adult non-stranger sexual assault, 2012 - present
- Member Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys' Services Council, 2007 - 2017
- Awarded Certificate of Appreciation for work on the Marion Franklin murder case
- Sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute federal cases, January 2004
- Member Board of Directors Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley, 2004 - 2014
- Awarded 2007 Homicide Investigator of the Year by Virginia Homicide Investigators Association for Lori Pleasants case
- Statewide instructor "Finding Words" (now ChildFirst) child abuse investigation and prosecution training, 2003 - present
- Task-force member creating the Children’s Advocacy Center for the New River Valley, 2002
- Member Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys, 2000 - present
- Awarded Certificate of Recognition from United States Attorney John Brownlee for work on Richard Lighty drug case
- Member National District Attorneys Association, 2004 - present
- Board Member for CASA / PCAN child abuse prevention agency, 2004-2008
- Member of Radford Lions Club, 2004 - 2021
- Member Fraternal Order of Police, NRV Lodge 21, 2002 - present
- Board Member New River Community Corrections, 2001-2003
- Adjunct professor, Criminal Justice, Radford University, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012
- Adjunct professor, Criminal Justice, Virginia Western Community College, Spring 2001
- Drake Law School National Mock Trial Team Member
- Drake Law School Moot Court Board Member
- Nominated for “Roanoke County Police Officer of the Year, 1993”
Paid for and Authorized by Citizens for Chris Rehak