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Alexandria Sheriff's Office finds no policy violations in its own review of Allan Tucker's in-custody death, declines to release report

The statement comes the same day as a public hearing on the Independent Policing Auditor's findings, which sustained violations against three Alexandria police officers

Alexandria Sheriff's Office headquarters. (Alexandria Sheriff's Office/File)

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Alexandria Sheriff's Office said Monday that an internal review of its staff's actions surrounding the August 2025 in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II found no violations of Sheriff's Office policies or procedures — but the office will not release the review to the public.

In a statement issued Monday, the Sheriff's Office said it completed the review it had promised following Tucker's death, which occurred after Alexandria police officers waited roughly 40 to 45 minutes in the sallyport of the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center during a shift change before Tucker was found unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Intake had never occurred, meaning Tucker remained in Alexandria Police Department custody when he died.

"While the review found no violations of Sheriff's Office policies or procedures, on the advice of legal counsel, due to the possibility of civil litigation, and to protect confidential personnel information, the internal review will not be released," the statement reads.

The Sheriff's Office also pointed to the multi-jurisdictional Critical Incident Response Team investigation, which found no criminal wrongdoing on the part of either Alexandria Police Department or Sheriff's Office personnel.

The statement arrives on a significant day in the Tucker case. Tonight, the city's Independent Community Policing Review Board holds a public hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center on the Independent Policing Auditor's findings, released June 22, which sustained policy violations against three of the four Alexandria police officers involved in Tucker's arrest and transport. The auditor's central finding was that the arresting officer continued transporting Tucker to the detention center after he repeatedly asked to be taken to a hospital.

The auditor's report specifically flagged the sallyport wait, the shift change, and detention center intake procedures as areas of concern — but the Office of the Independent Policing Auditor has jurisdiction only over the Alexandria Police Department, not the Sheriff's Office, which is an independent constitutional office led by an elected sheriff. The auditor recommended the city refer detention center operations on the night of Tucker's death to an independent agency for review, and suggested the city explore expanding civilian oversight to cover the Sheriff's Office — a recommendation the Sheriff's Office did not address directly in Monday's statement.

The Sheriff's Office pushed back on that framing Monday, emphasizing its independence as a constitutional office led by an elected sheriff accountable directly to Alexandria residents. The statement noted the office maintains Triple Crown Accreditation through the American Correctional Association, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and undergoes annual inspections by the Virginia Department of Corrections and the U.S. Marshals Service.

"ASO remains committed to being a transparent, collaborative, and professional law enforcement agency," the statement reads.

The Commonwealth's Attorney declined to charge any officers in January, citing the medical examiner's ruling that Tucker's death was accidental — caused by cocaine and cocaethylene intoxication — and the CIRT finding of no causal connection between any officer's actions and Tucker's death.

Tonight's public hearing runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. Each speaker has three minutes. Residents may also submit written comments to policeoversight@alexandriava.gov with the subject line "Public Comment – In-Custody Death."

Auditor finds Alexandria police violated policy in Allan Tucker’s in-custody death, urges broader jail oversight
The Independent Policing Auditor’s final report sustains policy violations against three of four officers, including a finding that the arresting officer continued to the jail after Tucker repeatedly asked to go to a hospital. A civilian review board holds a public hearing June 29.

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