The Operations Division is responsible for the daily response to calls for service and engages in proactive enforcement of city and state law. Operations Division personnel are the first responders who will immediately come to your aid when you dial 911. The Officers of this division respond to a wide variety of calls for service and are driven to provide an outstanding level of service to the residents and visitors of Virginia Beach.
The Operations Division in divided into four precincts and a Special Operations unit. Each precinct is staffed to provide around the clock police patrol coverage to the entire city. The Special Operations unit consists of Officers who have additional training and skills to provide assets during extraordinary circumstances. Special Operations consists of the following units; SWAT, Mounted Patrol, Aviation unit, Bomb Squad, K9, Crisis Negotiation, Fatal Crash Team, Motor Carrier Safety, Motorcycle and the Traffic Safety unit. These dedicated and skilled officers are assigned to these units full time and available for call out to assist patrol officers when requested.
Operations Division officers are provided with a wide variety of training and equipment to provide the best service possible to the people they encounter. Officers can be found patrolling in vehicles, bicycles, on horseback, and ATV’s on the beach. Officers are trained in techniques of de-escalation, mental health, first aid, crisis intervention, policing from the juvenile perspective, and communication so they are prepared to address the varying needs of the community. Community Policing is a core philosophy of the Virginia Beach Police Department and officers are taught to look beyond the situation they are presented for ways to make long term, positive change in the community. Positive relationships with the community are encouraged and fostered at all levels with engagement of the faith-based community, schools, Citizen Advisory Committees, community groups and on an individual basis.
The men and women of the Operations Division are proud to call the City of Virginia Beach their home and the residents and visitors to our city, our friends.
Please meet Deputy Chief of Operations Division Sean Adams.