Bryan L. Porter has served as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Alexandria since January 2014. As the city’s chief prosecutor, he oversees all criminal prosecutions and provides legal guidance to local law enforcement partners, including the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office. In this role, he is responsible for setting office priorities, implementing policy, and ensuring that prosecutions are conducted fairly, ethically, and in the interest of justice.

A lifelong Alexandrian, Porter graduated from T.C. Williams High School before earning his law degree from George Mason University School of Law in 2001. While attending law school, he worked overnight shifts as an Alexandria police officer, ultimately gaining more than five years of experience in law enforcement, experience that continues to inform his approach to prosecution and public safety.

During his tenure, Porter has overseen- and personally handled significant cases, including the prosecution of Charles Severance for the murders of Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby, and Ruthanne Lodato. He later chronicled the case in his book The Parable of the Knocker: The True Crime Story of a Prosecutor's Fight to Bring a Serial Killer to Justice.

Porter continues to lead the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney with a commitment to integrity, transparency, and community engagement.

The position of Commonwealth’s Attorney is created by the Constitution of Virginia and guided by the Code of Virginia. As the chief law enforcement officer for the City of Alexandria, the Commonwealth’s Attorney holds final authority over whether criminal charges are brought, how cases are prosecuted, and whether prosecutions should continue or be dismissed.

Under Virginia law, the Commonwealth’s Attorney is responsible for:

• Prosecuting all felony offenses and any misdemeanor or traffic offense that carries the possibility of jail time.
• Investigating alleged violations of state and local criminal laws.
• Authorizing or declining prosecution based on the evidence and interests of justice.
• Determining how cases proceed in court, including trial strategy and related decisions.
• Deciding whether to pursue appeals of adverse rulings.
• Terminating, dismissing, or otherwise resolving prosecutions when appropriate.

• Handling certain civil matters connected to criminal cases.

   

In addition to criminal prosecution, the Commonwealth’s Attorney has several statutory duties, including:

• Enforcing the State and Local Government Conflict of Interest Act as it applies to local government employees.
• Investigating and prosecuting unlawful conduct related to state and local elections.
• Reviewing incidents involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement and issuing legal determinations.
• Ensuring that the police department and sheriff’s office maintain proper investigative records for effective operations.

These responsibilities collectively reflect the broad discretionary authority vested in the Commonwealth’s Attorney and emphasizes the office’s central role in promoting public safety, ensuring accountability, and upholding justice in the City of Alexandria.