Why We Exist
Preserve human life
At its most basic, our mission is to preserve human life. We strive to prevent sudden, violent deaths, whether they are on our roadways or the result of crime. Traffic enforcement is critical to achieving this mission, as is ongoing, quality training. We are committed to using thoughtful tactics to deescalate moments of crisis whenever possible.
Protect the vulnerable
We exist to protect the vulnerable, and we strive to shield those members of our community from any who would exploit their circumstances. We also continuously work to better serve our residents who need services tailored to their unique situations.
Problem-solving partnerships
We engage in problem-solving partnerships to better serve our diverse, growing community. We stand eager to connect with and work alongside anyone willing to put in the work with us and make a mutual commitment toward action and growth.
Personnel: Recruit, retain, and develop top-tier talent
Everything we do starts and ends with the quality of our people. We are committed to ensuring all agency employees are supported with the best training, equipment, leadership, and culture possible. We are Virginia’s destination police department, and we are committed to maintaining an environment that attracts a steady stream of top-tier talent for generations to come.
Together, these four reasons are our why and we strive to have all that we do — and everything you’ll find in this report — lead back to one or more of these aspects of our mission.
Planning is essential to success. In Chesterfield County, Blueprint Chesterfield is the framework that serves as the foundation for how the county identifies priorities, sets strategic direction, and allocates resources. The strategic plan contains six goals, one of which focuses on providing a safe and secure community by prioritizing four objectives:
- Proactive Prevention
- Incident Preparedness
- Community Relationships
- Prompt and Professional Responses
The police department’s programs support this goal and its objectives, with each program tying back to one or more of the objectives. Included is a list of our programs and which of the four above county objectives they support.
- Patrol Services Bureau: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Special Operations Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Tactical Operations Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Criminal Investigations Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Vulnerable Populations Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Special Investigations Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Personnel Division: 3, 4
- Training Division: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Asset Management Bureau: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Internal Affairs Division: 1, 3, 4
- Animal Services Unit: 1, 2, 3, 4
CCPD at a glance
The Chesterfield County Police Department has: 564 authorized full-time sworn employees, 153 authorized full-time professional employees, and 68 authorized part-time employees.
Our agency is organized into three functional areas: Operations, Administrative Services and Professional Standards. Each is led by a deputy chief who reports to the chief of police.
Our budget for fiscal year 2025, which began on July 1, 2024, is $99.23 million.
Answering the call
In 2024, police in Chesterfield responded to 205,286 calls for service and assists. Officers responded to 5,088 motor vehicle crashes, 976 of which involved personal injuries. We also investigated 22 traffic fatalities.
We believe traffic enforcement helps preserve life by making our roads safer. To that end, officers conducted 32,497 traffic stops in 2024. They issued over 21,000 traffic summonses and 5,300 written warnings and arrested 847 intoxicated drivers.
During the summer of 2024, our Criminal Apprehension and Suppression Team (CAST) took 30 firearms off the street and helped patrol officers on 104 calls for service. Thanks to the situational awareness of its members, the team was able to quickly interrupt/address several violent incidents that otherwise could have tied up significant police resources.
In 2024, our Co-Response (CORE) Teams, which each consist of an officer and a mental health clinician, continued to help residents experiencing mental health crises. In over 80 percent of cases, the CORE Team was able to divert the person in crisis to alternative resources rather than placing them into emergency custody and seeking temporary detention for involuntary treatment at a psychiatric hospital. In 2024, our officers accumulated 12,589 hours of in-custody time for 674 persons in crisis during the Emergency Custody Order/Temporary Detention Order process. Comparatively, in 2023, officers accumulated 13,152 hours of in-custody time for 689 persons in crisis.
Community connections
We deeply value our relationship with our community, and we devote time, energy and resources to maintaining and growing that relationship. In 2024, the Chesterfield County Police Department achieved its highest-ever ranking for its National Night Out celebration, finishing third among localities with more than 300,000 residents.
This commitment to maintaining trust while providing outstanding service is also reflected in our 2024 reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is a voluntary, international program that accredits law enforcement agencies, demonstrating their commitment to excellence and adherence to best practices.
We receive outstanding support from our community, as well. Volunteers gave the department 23,560 hours of service in 2024 and performed tasks essential to our operation.
Police Activities League
The Chesterfield Police Activities League (PAL) hosted an array of events in 2024, including game days, hiking trips, Star Wars Reading Day, movie nights, the Haunted Woods and Fall Fest, and many more. The organization's goal is to have something for everyone!
In partnership with ESPN Radio, I AM POWER, Play Chesterfield, Chesterfield Parks and Recreation, Dick's Sporting Goods and Uptown Alley, PAL hosted its first annual football camp. Former National Football League (NFL) player Wali Rainer helped coach the campers and recruited other NFL players to join him. The coaches and officers helped the campers develop skills, and everyone involved enjoyed a day of fun and fellowship.
Investigative excellence
Detectives investigated 12 homicides in 2024 and cleared each case with the arrest of the suspect. These outstanding results would not have been possible without the work of the dedicated professionals in our Forensics and Property and Evidence units. Our department stored 16,186 pieces of evidence, and the Property and Evidence Unit completed more than 81,200 evidence transactions.
Since the enaction of a 2023 ordinance related to massage parlor permitting, the police department has issued permits for massage clinics and massage therapists. The ordinance was adopted in an effort to curtail illicit activities, including human trafficking, at massage parlors. In 2024, our Special Victims and Vice and Narcotics units worked together to conduct 23 administrative inspections, 22 undercover operations and three search warrants at massage parlors.
Top-tier talent
Everything we do starts and ends with our people, and we choose members of our team carefully. In 2024, we processed 3,469 applications and hired 86 full-time employees.
In 2024, two of our department’s six Smart Goals were related to continuing employee education; we met both goals. First, all of our personnel — sworn and professional staff — received Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training. ABLE teaches police employees how to successfully intervene and protects those who do intervene. It also authorizes and empowers law enforcement to intervene in another officer’s action regardless of his/her rank. Second, all department supervisors were trained in the agency’s budget/finance process. We hosted the first Chesterfield County Police Department Command Excellence School; the class was open to law enforcement leaders throughout the state and received positive reviews. We also adopted a policy requiring sergeants and lieutenants to receive eight hours of leadership training annually.
Enhanced Intelligence
Our Analytic and Strategic Operations Center (ASOC) includes eight intelligence analysts, four detectives and two sergeants. The center’s mission is to support frontline officers and detectives by providing timely, actionable intelligence using advanced technology and data analysis. Through the ASOC, we strive to enhance public safety, improve response, and increase the effectiveness of crime prevention and resolution efforts. In 2024, ASOC analysts assisted in 5,618 calls for service; this represents a 125.5% increase over 2023’s assists. Personnel in ASOC continued to expand camera integration in county buildings and increase participation in the Community Connect program. Our license plate reader program saw continued success in 2024, helping in three homicide investigations, in seven robbery investigations, and with the recovery of 145 stolen vehicles and 10 firearms.
Pedestrian Safety Initiative
Following a spike of four fatal pedestrian crashes in September 2024, police, along with county and state stakeholders, sought creative ways to educate the community and promote awareness of pedestrian safety. As we investigated the factors involved in these crashes, we found that some of them involved alcohol. An officer in our Community Engagement Unit reached out to Virginia ABC and asked if they would partner with us to raise awareness of the issue. Virginia ABC agreed, and police personnel produced stickers that could be placed on shopping bags to remind pedestrians to take steps to be seen and stay safe. Several Virginia ABC stores and some local stores put the stickers on their bags. The stickers were part of a larger public information campaign by police and Chesterfield County; the campaign lasted several weeks and explored factors that commonly contribute to pedestrian crashes. Additionally, the county’s Department of Transportation, libraries and police worked together to distribute free reflective vests to pedestrians in areas with high foot traffic.
Award-winning efforts
Our department was part of two National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards in 2024. The first was for the Read with a Cop program; this collaboration between police and Chesterfield Public Libraries brings officers and young residents together through story time. The second was for the implementation of time-saving technology with the help of the county’s Information Services Technology (IST) department. CCPD and IST were recognized for the implementation of a variety technologies that helped reduce the administrative burden on officers in the field. These efforts also earned a Commonwealth Technology Award.
Outstanding Service
A number of individual officers also earned honors in 2024. Two officers were recognized for leading the entire department in the number of impaired driving arrests at the Virginia Mothers Against Drunk Driving Awards Ceremony. Two officers were nominated for the Chesterfield Domestic Violence Task Force’s Outstanding Service Award in 2024. An officer and a sergeant were honored with the Vets on Track Foundation’s 2024 Community Hero of the Year Award. The foundation presents the award annually to people who have gone, and continue to go, above and beyond in their community. In 2024, Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen chose one of our officers for the ‘First Responder of the Year’ award. Another officer earned a Lifesaving Award from the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police for his lifesaving actions when he responded to a shooting in Falling Creek in March 2024.
Animal Services Unit
Our Animal Services Unit responded to 11,114 calls for service in 2024 and picked up 1,905 dogs and cats. Animal Services Officers returned 746 animals in the field through our Free Ride Home program, which provides a free ride home to animals with the owner's identifying information on their tag. Another 468 animals were returned to their owners, and 699 animals were adopted from the shelter. Rescue organizations accepted the transfers of 286 animals. Overall, the shelter achieved a 79 percent save rate in 2024.
On the Horizon
As we move through 2025, we are working on a number of initiatives, including:
- Testing and evaluating a new, green Class B uniform, which is pictured at right. The new uniform offers improved comfort and returns the agency to its green roots.
- Contruction of a new Animal Services Shelter. The new facility will provide space for 134 dogs, 120 cats, and eight exotic animals. The 30,990-square foot building will replace the existing 10,430-square foot facility and include single-level cages and indoor adoption meet-and-greet rooms as well as separate intake and adoptions lobbies and a full veterinary and surgical center. Outside, it will allow for increased outdoor exercise space (10 covered dog runs and two open meet-and-greet yards) and a 1,400-square foot barn. Substantial completion on the facility is projected to come in October 2026.
- CALEA TRI-ARC Accreditation. With the accreditation of our training academy, we will have earned CALEA’s TRI-ARC Accreditation. This means our police department, Emergency Communications Center, and training academy have all earned accreditation.
- Construction of the new Falling Creek Station.
- Implementation of red-dot sight equipment for firearms. This advanced sighting system improves shooting proficiency and accuracy. As the program is introduced, recruits will learn the red-dot system in the academy and current officers will have the option to receive training and switch to the system.
- Exploring the use of drones as first responders. This program would reduce response times and provide real-time situational awareness, improving officer and public safety. By deploying drones ahead of patrol officers, we could assess incidents more accurately and allocate resources more efficiently.
2025 SMART Goals
In 2025, all of our SMART goals* fall into two categories: providing enhanced customer service and fostering improved employee wellness. All of the department’s divisions are pursuing SMART goals, but leaders have identified 13 goals that are of particular importance to our community. We’re sharing these goals with our community in an effort to give more insight into the ways we work to keep Chesterfield safe.
- Increase annual enrollment of commercial and residential participants in the Community Connect program by 10 percent over 2024.
- Increase number of massage parlor inspections by 10 percent over 2024.
- Create a draft mentor training program for all School Resource Officers by June 2025 to better prepare them to effectively mentor students.
- Increase participation in the Chesterfield County Police Cadet Program by 25 percent by November 2025.
- Increase domestic violence-related community outreach programs/presentations by 50 percent over 2024.
- Increase human trafficking-related community outreach programs/presentations by 15 percent over 2024.
- Adopt Child Abduction Response Protocols and place into Special Victims Unit standard operating procedure by May 2025.
- Increase the number of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force operations by 10 percent over 2024.
- Create an online option for citizens to view lost and found pets on the Animal Services Unit’s chesterfield.gov website.
- Increase transparency by uploading all 2024 and onward speed study data onto the department’s chesterfield.gov website.
- Wellness Team members will visit two roll calls/work groups monthly to discuss wellness programs and resources.
- Wellness personnel will plan and host four Wellness Days and two Wellness Weeks in 2025.
- Ensure all supervisors (both sworn and professional staff) have attended a two-day or five-day Struggle Well class.
*The SMART Goals framework is used to create clearly defined objectives by making them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound — SMART. It helps turn lofty or vague ideas into actionable, trackable tasks.
Want to learn more?
Check out our website, where you can find a wealth of information, including:
Still curious?
Sign up for our Citizens Police Academy
Citizens Police Academy participants learn about the things our department does to make our community a safer place to live, work, and play. You can ask questions, participate in hands-on demonstrations, ride along with an officer, and participate in scenarios.
Participants must reside in, own a business in, or belong to a civic organization in Chesterfield County. We offer multiple academies throughout the year, including programs designed for members of our Hispanic community and teens.