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About Police
About the Police Department
The City of Falls Church Police Department was formed in 1948. It has 30 sworn law enforcement officers and is divided into five functional components: Animal Control, Investigations, Parking Enforcement, Traffic Enforcement, and Uniform Patrol. The Police Department also provides a School Resource Officer at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and George Mason High School.
Animal Control
The Falls Church City Animal Control Officer enforces City and state codes and laws dealing with animals and their control. The Animal Control Officer also investigates cruelty cases and can assist residents with wildlife concerns. The Animal Control Officer's primary function is to help and protect residents while dealing with animals as humanely as possible. The cooperation and assistance of all residents, however, is necessary to provide for good human/animal relationships in the community.
Communications/Dispatch
Communications personnel consist of an Emergency Communications Supervisor and Emergency Communications Technicians. They are typically the first contact the public has with the Department when requesting police services. Communications personnel are on duty 24 hours a day to assist the public. They receive and broadcast radio calls, monitor telephone calls for service, monitor radio traffic and duty status of all officers, assist the public, and control access to City Hall during non-business hours.
Community Services Unit
The Community Services Unit works to promote safety amongst the residential and business communities. This is accomplished through numerous prevention programs targeted at residents and business persons of all ages. For more information about these programs, visit the Community Programs page and the Crime Prevention Programs page.
Criminal Investigations
The Criminal Investigations Unit investigates all major crimes in the City of Falls Church. Major crimes include deaths, arson, auto theft, blackmail, bombings, burglaries, robberies, kidnapping, and rape and hostage situations. Detectives process major crime scenes, collect evidence, and take photographs for later use in court. They also conduct background investigations for candidates applying for positions in the Police Department and for precious metal/solicitor license applicants.
Emergency Operations
This office ensures that the City Emergency Operations Plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. In addition, staff who serve this function as a collateral duty, coordinate and attend monthly Council of Governments Emergency Services Managers Meetings, attend state mandatory training for Emergency Services Coordinators, and maintain and update the Emergency Operations (OPS) Plan for the City. This office also receives materials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and distributes them to City and School departments, and maintains the City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in a "ready condition" in case of an emergency.
The Chief of Police serves as the Coordinator of Emergency Management and coordinates all of these activities. The City Manager is the Director of Emergency Management and when an emergency occurs, the Manager, with senior staff, directs the response of the City workforce and, if needed, regional, state and federal resources.
Hacker Unit
The Police Department works with area taxi drivers, also known as "hackers," to ensure they meet the requirements for obtaining hack permit. Before obtaining a permit, hackers are required to undergo criminal history checks; they must not have any felony convictions or convictions of moral depravity; they cannot have more than five points on their driving record; they must have fingerprints on file with the Police Department; and they must submit an application containing their personal information, employment history, and medical screening questionnaire.
Falls Church Yellow Cab (11 Hillwood Avenue) employs all hackers in Falls Church City. The company manager maintains information on hacker requirements and is notified in the event of hack permit policy or procedure changes.
Parking Enforcement
The enforcement of parking regulations is a responsibility shared by the Parking Enforcement Officer and all Uniform Patrol officers. To report a parking violation, contact the Department at 703-241-5053.
Records
Records personnel assist residents seeking copies of accident reports, criminal history requests, and information on all reports taken by officers. Proper identification is required for copies of reports. Preliminary reports are only released upon court order; however, a summary of the report will be provided for a small fee. Summaries contain the case number, officer assigned, report date, complainant/owner name, incident location, and property at issue. The Records office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.. Call 703-248-5054 (TTY 711) for more information.
School Resources
The School Resource Officer is assigned to the City's middle and high schools to act as a resource for students, parents, and staff. The officer is there to interact with students, give classroom presentations, speak with parents, and work with school administration in matters relating to safety, security, and criminal activity on campus. The officer also serves as a liaison between the Police Department and the public school system. The School Resource Officer also provides a security presence at extracurricular events.
Traffic Calming and Enforcement
The Traffic Enforcement Officer and Uniform Patrol officers investigate accidents and handle traffic direction, control, and enforcement. As a part of the Department's traffic calming program, residents can call the Police Department at 703-241-5053 (TTY 711) to request a speed counter in their neighborhood, which tracks the speed that motorists travel and helps the neighborhood and the Police determine whether traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, should be implemented in their neighborhood.
The Police Department also implements targeted traffic enforcement efforts in residential and school zones. Examples include Back-to-School bus stop safety campaigns, alcohol countermeasures and DUI enforcement, and pedestrian/bicycle safety enforcement. The Department also participates in national and regional traffic enforcement and safety programs. For more information about these programs, see the Community Programs page.
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