Geo-policing is a community-based policing model that ACPD implemented in 2012. It divides the county into two patrol districts in which officers are assigned. This positions officers to get to know the people in our community, by covering the same areas and encouraging them to have positive interactions with the individuals of Albemarle County.

Geo-policing provides officers a greater sense of local concerns, builds stronger ties within the community, and encourages officers to take ownership of the community's concerns within their assigned area.

Sometimes a situation arises in which a community member has a concern about the performance of an ACPD officer or employee. When this happens, the process for filing a complaint is to contact the Office of Professional Standards at 434-296-5807.

After the complaint is submitted, a letter acknowledging the receipt of the complaint and the disposition of the investigation will be issued in a timely manner. Investigation of complaints will be conducted with the strictest confidentiality, keeping in mind the rights, concerns, and privacy of all parties involved.  

Just like any other crime that is committed. The criminal complaint is presented to the Magistrate to ensure probable cause exists. Once a warrant is obtained, the officer would be arrested and taken before the Magistrate for a preliminary bond hearing. The officer would then be processed (photos and fingerprints taken). The department would place the officer on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. Additionally, the department would conduct its own internal investigation to ascertain if any policies and procedures had been violated and determine the necessary punishment based on our discipline matrix. Our disciplinary process is reviewed during our accreditation process to ensure we are maintaining appropriate standards.

Every use of force incident is required to be documented in detail, then reviewed by supervisors, commanders, Office of Professional Standards, and the Chief of Police.

Once an event is documented, it is entered into a tracking system equipped with an early warning system that alerts our Internal Affairs that there may be an issue with an officer, prompting an investigation into that officer.  

Albemarle County Police Department’s Use of Force Policy (General Order) guides our officers through the many circumstances in which any level of force may be necessary, with detailed tactics and procedures, including officer’s presence, verbal commands, non-lethal force options, and lethal force options. ACPD requires that every officer receives annual training on Use of Force policy and procedures.

Every use of force incident is required to be documented in detail, then reviewed by supervisors, commanders, Internal Affairs, and the Chief of Police. Once an event is documented, it is entered into a tracking system equipped with an early warning system that alerts our Internal Affairs that there may be an issue with an officer, prompting an investigation into that officer.

ACPD policy is routinely reviewed and updated to ensure we are operating in the most effective and appropriate way. 

The Accreditation Standards are set through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission and the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency’s organization, management, operations, and administration. 

Accreditation increases our agency’s ability to prevent and control crime through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community by gaining citizen confidence in our agency’s policies and practices. Accreditation also creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to control and prevent crime, a partnership that educates citizens of the challenges that confront law enforcement. Law enforcement, in turn, receives clear direction from the community about its expectations - creating a common set of goals and objectives. You can see this in action through our work with our Community Advisory Teams and the local Pastors Council where district commanders meet with community members to review community concerns, crime trends in the areas, and community initiatives. 

Accreditation, in conjunction with the geo-policing model, commits our agency to a broad range of programs that directly benefit the public. 

Yes, the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) includes five citizen members appointed by the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and one ex-officio, non-voting member of the BOS, who acts as a liaison between the CAC and the BOS.

The CAC provides for independent review by a citizen committee of policies, procedures, budget decisions and staffing allocations of ACPD in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness of local law enforcement services and to promote the community policing philosophy of the County in a way which advances shared responsibility and interdependence between the community and the Police Department. The council reviews department policies, programs, procedure and practices, Rules and Regulations and General Orders, budget and funding priorities, and the level of staffing and how staffing is allocated.

ACPD also partners with Citizen Advisory Teams at the district level to maintain open and formal communications with our community to review community concerns, crime trends in the areas, and community initiatives. Participants must live in the district represented by each team, which meets every other month. District Commanders strive to get representation from throughout the district to ensure a fair and accurate conversation of hyper-local topics are addressed.

Our officers regularly attend community meetings with local congregations, nonprofit organizations, and citizen advisory groups (at both district and county levels) to maintain open and formal communications with our community. Members of the community can request a representative from ACPD at their community event by submitting a Special Activity Request.

Programs are designed to garner community input and insight, and ultimately address community-identified issues, often through our Problem-Oriented Policing Unit. Local community events organized by ACPD as well as other organizations (National Night Out, Special Olympics, Virginia Rules Summer Camps) foster relationships between officers and the people of Albemarle County and provide yet another opportunity for conversation and engagement.

The geo-policing model and adherence to the 21st Century Policing taskforce recommendations commits our agency to directly engage with the public we serve. 

ACPD officers are evaluated in a similar procedure to other County employees: an annual review to discuss the employee’s goals, opportunities for improvement, and a year-end skills proficiency check-in. Additionally, officers are evaluated daily on their interaction with the people of Albemarle County. This is informal but recognized feedback direct from our community.

Officers promoted in our department complete a rigorous assessment process that is comprised of a background investigation, peer review, interview panel (comprised on police and non-police individuals), some form of community engagement (ex: mock town hall meeting), and an oral/written presentation.

ACPD does not hire someone just to fill a vacancy. We hire the best candidates for service to Albemarle County. Our police officers are vetted through a rigorous hiring process. Candidates must successfully complete background checks, polygraphs, psychological exams, physicals, and interviews with command staff.

New officers receive a total of 1,440 training hours (approx. 10 months of training): Four weeks of in-house pre-academy training, followed by 20 weeks at the Police Academy and five weeks of additional enhanced training on policies, procedures, and expanded topics beyond academy training including timekeeping, report writing, and radio systems. New officers then complete 12 weeks of field training with a Field Training Officer where they demonstrate proficiency on state outlined objectives. Throughout this process, candidates are trained on subjects such as professionalism, ethics, mental health well-being, de-escalation tactics, and communications strategies through both classroom and practical applications.  

Training does not end when an officer joins the team. Our department provides ongoing training beyond the minimum requirement of all police officers. These trainings consistently re-enforce our commitment to our geo-policing model through topics including de-escalation skills, implicit bias awareness, cultural diversity awareness, emotional intelligence, and more.

The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) requires police officers to complete 40 hours of in-service training every two years. Curriculum is regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and includes four hours on legal and constitutional law, two hours on cultural diversity awareness, and 34 hours of career development.

Learn more about joining our team here.

Bias prevention training consists of both one-time courses, and on-going classes that include topics such as cultural diversity, engaging the mentally ill, emotional intelligence, and others that provide officers the knowledge to prevent biased-based policing.

As guided by our strategic plan, ACPD has prioritized key trainings that are considered best practice for departments across the country. We are working to ensure everyone in our department receives Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and Fair and Impartial Policing. Fair and Impartial Policing is now taught at the academy level. Training officers in these courses is an ongoing effort based on course capacity.

Crisis Intervention Training (40 hours) is designed to educate and prepare police officers who encounter people in crisis, to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and to respond effectively and appropriately to the individual.

Fair and Impartial Policing (6 hours) is rooted in the science of bias and the negative consequences of letting hidden biases impact perceptions and behavior. This training also teaches police professionals the skills that they need to reduce and manage their biases.

The goal of automated traffic enforcement programs are to encourage safer driving behavior and raise awareness about the risks of speeding and failing to stop for school buses—two leading causes of preventable crashes involving children.

In school zones, speed enforcement cameras are intended to increase driver awareness and reduce speed-related crashes. Driving too fast for conditions reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely and limits reaction time to unexpected hazards—especially around vulnerable road users like children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one-third of all fatal crashes are related to speeding (NHTSA, 2023).

Similarly, stop arm cameras on school buses aim to prevent dangerous and illegal passing when a bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Around 40% of school bus-related fatalities involve drivers who fail to stop for school buses (NHTSA, 2022). This behavior endangers children as they board or exit the bus.

By using technology to enforce existing laws, these programs work together to create a safer environment for students and promote responsible driving throughout our community.