{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-15.2-1701","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 15.2-1701","heading":"Organization of police forces","body":"Any locality may, by ordinance, provide for the organization of its authorized police forces. Such forces shall include a chief of police, and such officers and other personnel as appropriate.When a locality provides for a police department, the chief of police shall be the chief law-enforcement officer of that locality. However, in towns, the chief law-enforcement officer may be called the town sergeant.1979, c. 333, § 15.1-131.7; 1997, c. 587.","path":["Title 15.2. COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS","Subtitle II. POWERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT","Chapter 17. POLICE AND PUBLIC ORDER","Article 1. General Provisions"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-1701/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:14:19Z","sha256":"74db7ddbc9e0b6ea022b5930b0afb631a0d36228638a6ad2ed08ef030fd6a80f","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-15.2-1700","next":"us-va/va.-code-15.2-1702"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}