Virginia Beach Police Department (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 437,994 people within 497.3 square miles (1,288 km²) of jurisdiction within Virginia Beach, VA.
Special Operations:
The Silver Cross Award Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes himself themselves by extraordinary bravery not justifying the Medal of Valor award.
The Special Commendation Award Awarded to any member of the Department of Police or any other law enforcement agency for an act or achievement above that which is normally required or expected.
The Medal of Merit Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes themselves by performing his duties in a manner that clearly exceeds what is normally required or expected or for a highly creditable police accomplishment.
The Medal of Valor Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and at the risk of their his life. The Medal of Valor is a Maltese cross medallion.
The Blue Star Medal Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police who has been killed, wounded or injured in the performance of their duties. The Blue Star is similar equivalent to the U.S. Government's Purple Heart.
Special Operations Bureau
Special Operations is a bureau under the Police Operations Division. Highly trained officers are responsible for specialized traffic enforcement, maintaining and deploying rapid response teams for handling unusual occurrences and conducting dedicated law enforcement actions. In order to accomplish these responsibilities, members contribute with a number of various tactical units.Special Operations:
- Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) is responsible for the resolution of situations requiring other than normal police actions, tactics, or equipment. The demonstrated goal of the unit is to resolve situations while limiting hazards to citizens and police personnel.
- Bomb Squad The Virginia Beach Police Bomb Squad began in 1991 as the Tactical Explosives Unit (TEU), with the singular role of explosive breaching/entry techniques for the SWAT Team.
- Canine (K9) Unit The canine unit performs its duties with twenty-four hour coverage. Acting in a patrol capacity, canine teams respond to and can be utilized for: all felonies in progress, any case where there is a weapon involved, violent persons, prowler calls, area searches to locate suspects, missing persons and fleeing felons for tracking purposes, alarm calls, article searches for evidence recovery, insecure buildings to conduct building searches when necessary, SWAT and tactical operations to maintain perimeters and clear buildings
- Mounted Patrol Unit The Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol Officers have the same responsibilities as other police officers on patrol while employing a very distinctive tool.
- Crisis Negotiation Team The Crisis Negotiation Team uses proven intervention techniques to defuse situations involving suicidal or barricaded individuals or those persons who may hold hostages.
- Fatal Crash Team The Fatal Crash Team (FaCT) is highly trained in accident investigation and accident reconstruction.
- Hit and Run The Hit and Run Unit is responsible for investigating accidents involving hit and run and/or leaving the scene.
- Traffic Safety Unit It is to address the city's increasing fatality and alcohol- related accident rates.
- Motor Carrier Safety and Environmental Crimes Unit The Motor Carrier Safety Unit conducts roadside inspections of commercial motor vehicles to locate and enforce equipment defects, logbook violations, hauling permit violations, overweight vehicles, and hazardous material violations.
- Motorcycle Unit The primary responsibility of the Virginia Beach Police Department Motorcycle Unit lies in the reduction of traffic related incidents and deaths within the City of Virginia Beach through aggressive RADAR enforcement.
- Aviation Unit - Helicopter Operations Their primary mission is: to support Police ground units. The areas this support is rendered are but not limited to: Patrol in support of the ground units, Apprehension of Criminal Suspects, Search and Rescue, Homeland Security, Surveillance, Crowd Surveillance, Crime Scene Photos, and Damage Assessments of Manmade and Natural Disasters. Its secondary missions are: To support for other city departments and support for other jurisdictions in the tidewater area.
- Marine Patrol Unit / Dive Team Members of the Marine Patrol unit serve and attend meetings of the Port Security - Home Land Security Committees and the Safe Boating Coalition. Boat Captains are also available for presentations about the unit and boating safety.
Support Services
The Virginia Beach Police Department’s Support Services Division provides administrative support to the department. The division is made up of the following units: Automated System Support, Budget Office, Central Records Unit, Crime Reporting Unit, Office of Planning & Analysis, Payroll Office, and Logistical Support (Property & Evidence Unit and the Uniform & Supply Unit).Investigative Division
The Investigative Division of the Virginia Beach Police Department oversees the Detective Bureau and Special Investigations. Click the links to the right to go to the Detective Bureau Home Page or the Special Investigations Home Page.Operations Division
Includes the following units:- Animal Control The mission of the Virginia Beach Bureau of Animal Control is to balance the health, safety and welfare needs of the people and animals in the City.
- Auxiliary Police
- First Precinct
- Second Precinct
- Third Precinct
- Fourth Precinct
- Special Operations
- The Crime Prevention Unit
- Community Service Officers
Awards
The Life Saving Medal Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or any other law enforcement agency who distinguishes himself by performing extraordinary physical acts or renders life saving techniques to aid in the preservation of a human life. Only one award can be given for each instance, regardless of the number of lives saved.The Silver Cross Award Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes himself themselves by extraordinary bravery not justifying the Medal of Valor award.
The Special Commendation Award Awarded to any member of the Department of Police or any other law enforcement agency for an act or achievement above that which is normally required or expected.
The Medal of Merit Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes themselves by performing his duties in a manner that clearly exceeds what is normally required or expected or for a highly creditable police accomplishment.
The Medal of Valor Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police or other law enforcement agency who distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and at the risk of their his life. The Medal of Valor is a Maltese cross medallion.
The Blue Star Medal Awarded to any sworn or ancillary member of the Department of Police who has been killed, wounded or injured in the performance of their duties. The Blue Star is similar equivalent to the U.S. Government's Purple Heart.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Virginia Beach Police Department, 8 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer Roger L. McClung | |
Drowned |
| Detective Robert R. Monette | |
Drowned |
| Detective Jimmy Wayne Mobley | |
Aircraft accident |
| Police Officer William Douglas Black | |
Aircraft accident |
| Police Officer Daniel T. Maloney | |
Gunfire |
| Auxiliary Officer George Wayne Starr | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Police Officer Rodney Fredderick Pocceschi | |
Gunfire |
| Detective Michael Smith Phillips | |
Gunfire |