The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 447,489 people within 497.3 square miles (1,288 km2) of jurisdiction within Virginia Beach, VA.
Special Operations is a bureau under the Police Operations Division. Officers are responsible for specialized traffic enforcement, maintaining and deploying rapid response teams for handling unusual occurrences, and conducting law enforcement actions. Tactical units used to accomplish this include:
Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) - Responsible for the resolution of situations requiring unique actions, tactics, or equipment. The goal of the unit is to resolve situations while limiting hazards to citizens and police personnel.
Bomb Squad - Founded in 1991 as the Tactical Explosives Unit, with the singular role of explosive breaching/entry techniques for the SWAT Team.
Canine Unit - Assist in a patrol capacity and can be used for: all felonies in progress; occurrences involving weapons; violent persons; prowlers; area searches and tracking; alarm calls; searches for evidence; building searches and clearing; support for SWAT and tactical operations.
Mounted Patrol Unit.
Crisis Negotiation Team - Use intervention techniques to defuse situations involving individuals who are suicidal, barricaded , or holding hostages.
Fatal Crash Team - Conduct accident investigation and reconstruction.
Hit and Run - Investigate accidents involving hit and run and/or leaving the scene.
Traffic Safety Unit - Addresses the city's increasing fatality and alcohol-related accident rates.
Motor Carrier Safety and Environmental Crimes 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 - Primarily responsible for reducing traffic-related incidents and deaths within the City of Virginia Beach through aggressive RADAR enforcement.
Aviation Unit / Helicopter Operations - Primary mission is to support police ground units through air patrol, search and rescue, surveillance, crime scene photos, and damage assessments. Its secondary missions are to support other city departments, and support other jurisdictions in the tidewater area.
Marine Patrol Unit / Dive Team - Attend meetings of the Port Security, Homeland Security Committees, and the Safe Boating Coalition. Boat Captains present presentations about the unit and boating safety.
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).
The Investigative Division of the Virginia Beach Police Department oversees the Detective Bureau and Special Investigations.
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
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 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.
Since the establishment of the Virginia Beach Police Department, 8 officers have died in the line of duty.
