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Left to right: Virginia Beach Police Chief Jake Jacocks, Senator Ken Stolle, Smithfield Foods Executive Vice President Richard J.M. Poulson and Maria Pocceschi, holding Carson Pocceschi.

Many companies talk about being good corporate citizens and community partners, in Virginia Beach, Smithfield Foods puts those words into action for a family struck by tragedy. When Virginia Beach Police Officer Rodney Pocceschi was killed in the line of duty during a routine late-night traffic stop on June 23, 2003, Smithfield was one of the first businesses in the Hampton Roads area to ask how they could help.

Smithfield wanted to provide a meaningful service and decided to establish a scholarship fund for Carson Pocceschi, the 11-month-old son of Officer Pocceschi. The scholarship will cover the annual cost of full tuition for Carson to any two- or four-year accredited institution of higher learning. This scholarship will include all charges for tuition, room and board, books, travel and an appropriate stipend for spending money.

“Smithfield Foods is proud to honor Rodney Pocceschi by giving his son the opportunity to get a quality education,” said Richard J.M. Poulson, executive vice president of Smithfield Foods “Nothing we can do will ever take the place of Rodney’s love and companionship for Carson, but we can make sure that he gets the education that his father would have wanted for him.”

The announcement was made at the Virginia Beach Police Headquarters during an afternoon news conference on July 11, 2003. Attending were Maria and Carson Pocceschi, Virginia Beach Senator Kenneth W. Stolle, Virginia Beach Police Chief A.M. “Jake” Jacocks, Jr. and other Virginia Beach law enforcement officials.

“Officer Rodney Pocceschi gave his life protecting the citizens of Virginia Beach and I will be forever grateful to him and his family for his sacrifice,” said Sen. Stolle. “I’d also like to thank Smithfield Foods for its generous offering. Smithfield is a strong corporate citizen and community partner.”

Chief Jacocks expressed similar sentiments. “On behalf of Maria and the entire Virginia Beach Police Department, I’d like to thank Smithfield Foods for its gracious gesture. Rod steadfastly believed in the value of education, and today we have ensured that Carson will get the best education possible.”