Scott Booth, Class of 2019

Scott Booth
Chief of Police, Danville Police Department
Danville, VA

What is new and exciting with you now or since your time with Lead Virginia?

I am getting ready to start a doctoral program in criminal justice in summer 2020.

How did Lead Virginia shape you as a leader?
Lead Virginia has expanded my outlook on the many opportunities, as well as the challenges, that we face in the commonwealth. Experiencing the different regions of Virginia with leaders from all over the state was truly exhilarating for me. Many times, I tend to view a community through my lens – law enforcement – and exclude others that are equally important. Lead Virginia has allowed me to understand opportunities and challenges from other perspectives such as education, workforce development, and the overall health of a community.

Since Lead Virginia, how have you put your social capital to work?
After Lead Virginia, I have consistently put more efforts into relationships – both within my community and other arenas throughout the state. I have found that the relationships I built during Lead Virginia have been an invaluable resource.

What was your biggest takeaway or lesson learned from Lead Virginia that continues to resonate with you today?
The biggest lesson for me is that there is tremendous talent here in the commonwealth, in both the private and public sectors, working together to make Virginia a better place, everyday.