The Patrol Division, comprised of VA DCJS-certified police officers, supervisors, and specialists, enables the Fredericksburg Police Department to provide competent and professional police services to the citizens of Fredericksburg.
Accountable and professional delivery of police services is an important factor that is critical to the success or failure of a police department's mission. The core component charged with the majority of that responsibility is the Patrol Division.
The Patrol Division has overall law enforcement jurisdiction within the city limits, which encompasses criminal and traffic jurisprudence outlined in the Code of Virginia and the Ordinances of the City of Fredericksburg.
Animal Control
Auxiliary Police
Equestrian
General
K-9
School Resource Officer
S.E.T.T.
Crisis Negotiation
Traffic Unit
Parking Enforcement
Animal Control
The primary function of the Animal Control Officer is the enforcement of the laws pertaining to animals under the Code of Virginia and the animal ordinances of the City of Fredericksburg.
Animals include, but are not limited to: dogs, cats, domesticated animals, birds, fowl, and feral animals that come into the city. Wild animals which are not exhibiting abnormal behavior and are located outside of a dwelling are not covered under the functions of Animal Control in most circumstances. The disposal of dead animals located on city property is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works.
Animal Control Officers are responsible for investigating all incidents in which a person has been bitten by a domestic or feral animal.
The Animal Control Bureau is not an animal shelter, but an enforcement component of the police department and assigned to the Patrol Division. Stray dogs picked up by the Animal Control Officer are housed at the Stafford Pound under an agreement with Stafford County. The phone number to the Stafford Pound is (540)658-7383.
The Animal Control Officer is also considered the city Game Warden. Normal hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patrol Officers handle animal-related calls when the Animal Control Officer is not available.
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Auxiliary Police
Auxiliary Police Officers are important for the overall operation of the regular police force. These volunteer officers are recruited, processed, trained, assigned duties and are regulated pursuant to the policies, rules, regulations and the general orders of the police department. Their authorization as an entity of the police department is provided by city code.
All Auxiliary officers are sworn officers and certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Auxiliary Officers provide a wide range of assistance to the department, to include criminal patrol, traffic control, event security, crime scene investigation, special operations support and administrative support.
The auxiliary police force was originally established by city ordinance during the early years of World War II under the title of the "Fredericksburg Special Police." Primary objectives of the Special Police during that time were to provide assistance to the regular police force, supplement the Civil Defense (air raid warden) program and assist the Virginia State Guard with war-time defense duties. After cessation of World War II, the responsibilities of the special police slowly diminished and their functions were reduced, more or less, to that of a "social group" which generally provided support for the regular police force in non-enforcement duties.
During recent years the organization was transformed by state legislature, city code, and directives into a fully trained and state certified law enforcement entity and became an integrated unit of the police department. The only recognizable similarity between the early special police and the auxiliary police force of today is the volunteer time and effort in support of the regular police force and the community. The total services provided by the auxiliary police have proven very beneficial to the police department and in the day-to-day delivery of law enforcement services.
The Auxiliary Police Officer hiring process is identical to the regular Police Officer hiring process.
Auxiliary officers are required to provide an average of no less than 20 hours of service per month, each calendar year.
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Equestrian Unit
The Mounted Police Patrol is a voluntary additional duty. When directed by the Patrol Division Commander, the mounted patrol unit is activated and utilized as a supplement to patrol division activity. The mounted unit, individually or as a team, may also be assigned to other public functions where their presence may be useful or necessary to ensure public safety and/or to promote the police department.
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General Patrol
Patrol Officers are the first responders to calls for service requiring the presence of a police officer. These officers are responsible for the protection of life and property, the prevention and initial investigation of crimes, and the preservation of peace and order within an assigned patrol area. Officers in their patrol cars maintain a visible presence in the communities and retail centers throughout the city limits as they serve the public body and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and of the City.
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K-9
Police K-9s have a proven ability to conduct safer building searches, to track fleeing criminal suspects, and to detect and discover illicit contraband, drugs, and concealed evidence. There are three police K-9 teams in the Fredericksburg Police Department. They are trained for multiple tasks to include tracking, building and article searching, and apprehension of fleeing suspects. Each K-9 is the partner of a specially trained patrol officer, and the K-9 also wears a badge signifying its role as a critical component of the law enforcement team.
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School Resource Officer
The purpose of the School Resource Officers (SRO) is to provide a safe environment for the students and faculty of the following schools in the City of Fredericksburg:
Hugh Mercer Elementary School
2100 Cowan Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-372-1115
Hugh Mercer Elementary School www.cityschools.com/cityschools/hughmercer/generalinfo/
Lafayette Upper Elementary School
3 Learning Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-310-0029
Lafayette Upper Elementary School www.cityschools.com/cityschools/lafayette/generalinfo/
Walker-Grant Middle School
One Learning Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-372-1145
Walker-Grant Middle School www.cityschools.com/cityschools/walkergrant/generalinfo/
James Monroe High School
2300 Washington Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-372-1100
James Monroe High School www.cityschools.com/cityschools/jamesmonroe/generalinfo/
School Resource Officers contribute to the school communities by their daily presence on the school grounds and their participation in the activities of the students. School Resource Officers act as mentors and leaders to the youth of the City of Fredericksburg.
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S.E.T.T.
The Special Equipment Tactical Team (SETT) is an integral part of the Police Department. The primary mission of SETT is to execute safe entry into buildings for drug raids, during high-risk warrant service, or in the support of any operation that includes the anticipation of violence. SETT also responds to hostage or barricade situations in conjunction with the Crisis Negotiation Team.
The team is comprised of officers who are specially trained and qualified in the use of tactical weapons and entry equipment. Officers on SETT are competitively selected and participate in scenario training twice every month. All SETT duties are undertaken in addition to the officers' primary responsibilities.
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Crisis Negotiating Team
The Fredericksburg Police Department maintains a Crisis Negotiation Unit who are trained and equipped to respond to crisis situations. The team specializes in using proven Negotiation Tactics to confront individuals in stronghold or barricade positions, whether or not they hold hostages. A stronghold/barricade situation is generally classified as any instance where an individual(s) is armed with a weapon and threatening his own life and/or the lives of others and where it is determined that approaching the subject physically would present an undue danger to officers as well as to the citizens and suspect(s) involved. Once this determination is made, the CNT and SETT are jointly activated. Upon arrival the CNT attempts to establish verbal contact with the suspect(s) and talk the situation through to a peaceful resolution. This is done using a variety of techniques gleaned from formal training with the FBI's Crisis Negotiation Unit based out of Quantico, Virginia. Each member of the Fredericksburg Police Department's CNT must complete an intensive week-long training program with FBI CNU instructors and then continue their education, training and practice throughout their careers. The CNT trains regularly with the SETT using role players and real-life scenarios. During actual crisis events, both teams deploy and work in unison under a single command in order to exact the most peaceful resolution possible for all parties involved.
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Traffic Unit
The primary responsibilities of the traffic unit are to work motor vehicle accidents and to conduct selective enforcement activities such as school zone patrol and radar enforcement regulations. Additionally, they routinely perform safety check-point details.
Fredericksburg Police use a solar powered RADAR trailer to enforce city speed limits. This trailer not only monitors speeds, but also keeps an internal log of how many vehicles passing by the trailer break the speed limit. This helps the police department determine if a speeding problem exists in a certain area.
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Parking Enforcement
In July 2007, the Fredericksburg Police Department implemented new technology called autoChalk to encourage residents and visitors to obey the time-zone parking restrictions in the downtown district. The autoChalk system employs a vehicle-mounted camera, laser, laptop, and GPS unit which tracks the turnover of vehicles in time-restricted parking. The parking enforcement officer drives through the downtown area at the posted speed limit while autoChalk records parked vehicles through digital photography and specialized software. When the Parking Enforcement Officer drives through the area again after the time limit expires, autoChalk alerts the officer to any violations detected. The officer then compares the before-and-after images to confirm the infraction and autoChalk generates a ticket to be sent by mail to the vehicle's owner, using information from the license plate registration.
Parking enforcement officers also patrol other areas of the city such as the neighborhoods around the University, the train station, and retail centers. These areas are monitored manually, with a hand-written ticket left on the windshield in the event of a violation.
Map to free parking lots and the low-fee garage
Explanation of Fines
- All time-zone violations detected by manual parking enforcement will be $15.00 for each citation issued.
- The first violation detected by autoChalk, and subsequent violations within ten days of the first, will receive a warning notice advising the violator of a parking infraction.
- Following the ten day "grace period" that begins upon initial violation, the fine for the next two infractions will be $15.00 for each citation issued.
- After two infractions at $15.00 each, the fine for the next two infractions will be $25.00 for each citation issued.
- After two infractions at $25.00 each, the fine for subsequent infractions will be $45.00 for each citation issued.
- After six months from the date of the first infraction, the escalating fines can be reset to $0.00 (warning notice) if the vehicle has not been issued a time-zone parking citation within the previous twelve weeks.
Parking Tickets
If you wish to contest your parking ticket, print out this form and follow the instructions on the form to complete it.
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