Organization
The current Acting Chief of Police is Lt. Colonel James A. Morris. The three main divisions within the department are Patrol, Investigations/Operation, and Administration. Each division is commanded by a Deputy Chief. The Internal Affairs Bureau and the Chief's Office of Research and Support both report directly to the Chief.
I. The Investigation/Operation Division contains the Motorcycle Squad, SWAT, K-9 Section, EOD, Helicopter Unit, Crime Scene Section and the Criminal Investigations Bureau.
Officers in the Motor Section keep traffic moving and control traffic at major incidents and crash scenes. They rely almost exclusively on Harley-Davidson motorcycles to get to the source of traffic problems. Specially trained and certified officers assigned to the Motor Carrier Safety Section inspect trucks and commercial vehicles for safety and legal regulations. They can force unsafe vehicles off the roads. The Crash Reconstruction Unit provides technical expertise and has investigative responsibility for most fatal crashes. The Traffic Safety Services Section acts as the department’s coordination point for all regional and departmental traffic enforcement and safety education programs. Traffic Enforcement Officers address parking issues. The Traffic Division coordinates the Auxiliary Police Officers and Volunteers in Police Service programs. APOs handle both administrative and operational tasks, such as augmenting patrol, traffic control, and taking police reports. VIPS perform primarily administrative tasks throughout the department.
The primary investigative branch of the Department is divided into specializations: Major Crimes (murder, sex crimes, assault, robbery, vehicle theft, financial crimes, and crimes against children), Organized Crime and Narcotics, Criminal Intelligence, and Investigative Support (crime scene, fingerprints, etc.).
II. The Administration Division contains the Criminal Justice Academy, Central Records, the property room and the Public Information Office.
The Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy trains recruits and prepares officers through constant, updated training and conducts the Citizen's Police Academy.
III. The Patrol Division contains Animal Control, Youth Services Division, and station detectives for property crimes.
Animal Control officers are specially trained law enforcement officers who investigate dog bites and attacks and complaints of animal cruelty. They respond to emergencies involving sick or injured domestic animals and enforce county codes and state laws pertaining to animals. They remove strays from the community, often impounding them at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter where many can be reunited with their owners or adopted by new owners.
The vast majority of patrol officers operate out of eight district stations, which are as follows:
- Mason District
- McLean District
- Mount Vernon District
- Fair Oaks District
- Franconia District
- Reston District
- Sully District
- West Springfield District
Read more about this topic: Fairfax County Police Department
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