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April 9, 2013 Background: • Elizabeth Fitzwater, a native and resident of Portsmouth, was an assistant commonwealth's attorney for the City and a special assistant United States attorney from 1998 until her tragic death on September 5, 2011 at age 43. • Mrs. Fitzwater was an outstanding trial attorney who prosecuted hundreds of violent offenders and protected and championed for the victims of crime. • She was a wife and a mother of three young children, a past president of the Portsmouth Bar Association, a member of the Portsmouth Service League, and an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth. Discussion: • Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Earle C. Mobley has requested that the Victim Witness Office for the City of Portsmouth be named the Elizabeth B. Fitzwater Victim Witness Office in memory of Mrs. Fitzwater, a member of his office at the time of her death. Financial Impact: • There is no financial impact from this action. Recommended Action: • Adoption of the resolution. Vision Principle: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Next Steps Following Council Action: • A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the Commonwealth's Attorney. - Mayor Wright recognized the Bartlett family. 1. Joe Wright, 1451 Welcome Road, spoke in support of this item. Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION NAMING THE PORTSMOUTH VICTIM WITNESS OFFICE IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH B. FITZWATER. WHEREAS, Elizabeth B. Fitzwater was a native and resident of the City of Portsmouth who served as an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney and a special assistant United States Attorney from 1998 until her tragic death on September 5, 2011, at age 43; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Fitzwater was an outstanding trial attorney who prosecuted hundreds of violent offenders and was a champion for the victims of crime; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Fitzwater was also a wife and a mother of three young children, a past president of the Portsmouth Bar Association, a member of the Portsmouth Service League, and an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth; and WHEREAS, Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Earle Mobley has requested that City Council honor Elizabeth B. Fitzwater by naming the Portsmouth Victim Witness Office in her memory. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby acknowledges with appreciation the contributions made by the late Elizabeth B. Fitzwater in the areas of criminal prosecution and protection of the victims of crime and names the Portsmouth Victim Witness Office the "Elizabeth B. Fitzwater Victim Witness Office" in her memory." Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None