The Virginia Marine Police comprises the largest division within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Approximately 83 of the agency's 166 personnel are assigned to the law enforcement division.
Virginia Marine Police Officers are responsible for a multitude of unique police duties. Serving on the tidal water's of the Commonwealth, officers are responsible for the enforcement of commercial and recreational fishery laws and regulations. Officers are also tasked with providing search & rescue operations, enforcing boating safety laws, responding to emergency calls, investigating boating accidents, investigating criminal activity and providing counter-terrorism patrols to our military installations, shipyards and nuclear power plants, and other high value maritime assets.
Ensuring the sustainability of today's marine resources for future generations, Virginia Marine Police Officers are the forefront in protecting Virginia's fishery stocks and habitat. The men and women of the Virginia Marine Police are dedicated to providing the highest standard of law enforcement service to the citizens of the Commonwealth and her visitors.
Whether checking recreational fishing licenses, monitoring commercial fishermen for compliance, investigating boating accidents or providing educational programs, officers provide a multitude of important public service functions. Education and enforcement forge an important tool that ensures the success of the agency's mission.
Uniform patrol is the backbone of the law enforcement division. To maximize deployment and to achieve greater flexibility in personnel, Marine Police Officers utilize a number of diverse vessels, vehicles and air support for law enforcement patrols. Special Agents assigned to the Special Investigative Unit are utilized for addressing the investigative needs of the division. The Marine Mechanical staff located at the Operations Station ensures that the police watercraft are kept in top running condition. The Communications division fields thousands of calls a year for a variety of dispatch services ranging in nature from a simple question pertaining to a regulation to dispatching police personnel to boating accidents.
Officers of the Virginia Marine Police have full law enforcement arrest powers through out the Commonwealth. Virginia Marine Police Officers are required to complete a state mandated basic police academy. New officers are also required to complete the Marine Law Enforcement Training Program held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia.
Through a cooperative law enforcement agreement between the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the National Marine Fishery Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, officers are deputized to enforce federal fish and wildlife laws. The strong bond between the agencies has proven to be a model in cooperative law enforcement. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has also recently entered into a cooperative agreement with the United States Coast Guard that allows the Virginia Marine Police to enforce federally designated safety and security zones.
Serving Virginia since 1875, men and women of the Virginia Marine Police continue
their proud tradition of service, valor and professionalism.
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