Commonwealth's Attorney's Office
Richard E. "Dick" Trodden received a standing ovation after a short ceremony at the Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting which celebrated his career and retirement as the Arlington County Commonwealth's attorney.
Arlington Democrats gave a heartfelt goodbye to long time Arlington County Commonwealth attorney Richard E. “Dick” Trodden last night at their monthly Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.
“Many of us have started to take for granted some of the great elected officials we have here in Arlington government,” said Michael Lieberman. “That doesn’t apply any more appropriately than to our retiring commonwealth attorney, Dick Trodden.”
Retiring after serving 18 years as a prosecutor in the county, Trodden was remembered last night by his former colleagues as a man who did what was right, whether or not it was popular.
Speakers said he was as a person who worked with all branches of government and the public fairly. Democrats toasted how his attitude rubbed off onto other people working around him, encouraging them to work just as he did.
Trodden bid his own farewell to his supporting party as a roaring, standing ovation echoed throughout the room.
“To serve a county where I grew up in, to serve where my family lives, my parents, my sisters, it means a lot to me to be of service,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful honor.”
Theo Stamos, a deputy in Trodden's office, won the election to replace him in November.
