Posted by SMAD March 31, 2008

The following is an article written by Newport News Police Department MPO/PIO Holly Tepper:

On September 19, 2005, Aaron Pritchett left his 7 ½ year career as a photojournalist with WTKR News Channel 3 and began a new chapter of his life with the City of Newport News Video Production Department as a Senior Video Production Specialist. The partnership between the police department and video productions has flourished and Aaron Pritchett is essential to that relationship.

Aaron began his journey into television with his church’s small television ministry in his hometown of Staunton, VA when he was in Jr. High School. He went onto Bridgewater College for two years and then transferred to James Madison University. Aaron graduated from JMU in May 1996 with a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Electronic Journalism.

Aaron’s first job in Broadcast Television was in Charlottesville, VA at WVIR-TV (NBC Affiliate).

He continued his career in television with WTKR News Channel 3 (CBS Affiliate) where he received many local, state, and international awards mostly for his work for the Crime Line program all around Hampton Roads. It is at Channel 3 that Aaron formed a working relationship with the Newport News Police Department.

Aaron continued this strong relationship when he joined the City’s Video Production team. Aaron regularly highlights the police department in the national award winning Newport News in Review program. Just recently he assisted the police department in honoring retired Chief George Austin, the first black Police Chief in the State of Virginia, in a memorial video.

On March 17, 2008, during an Executive Staff meeting, Chief James Fox presented Aaron with a Chief’s coin for his energy, his excellence and his vision in video production.