The department of law enforcement shall consist of the attorney for the Commonwealth, chief of police, and sheriff, together with their assistants, police officers, deputies and employees. If a department of public safety is created, the chief of police, his police officers and employees shall be a part of such department as hereinafter provided.
The attorney for the Commonwealth shall exercise the powers conferred and perform the duties imposed upon such officer by general law and shall be accountable to the board in all matters affecting the county and shall perform such duties, consistent with his office, as the board directs. He shall be selected as provided by general law.
The department of law enforcement may also include a county attorney to be appointed by the board upon the recommendation of the county executive and who shall serve at an annual salary to be set by the board. If a county attorney is appointed, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall be relieved of the duties of advising the board, of drafting or preparing county ordinances, and of defending or bringing civil actions in which the county or any of its officials is a party. All such duties shall be performed by the county attorney, who shall be accountable to the board in all such matters.
The sheriff shall exercise the powers conferred and perform all the duties imposed upon sheriffs by general law except as herein provided. He shall have the custody, feeding and care of all prisoners confined in the county jail. He shall perform such other duties as the board may impose upon him. The sheriff shall be selected as provided by general law. The sheriff and such other deputies and assistants appointed hereunder shall receive such compensation as the board prescribes. Any police officer appointed by the urban county executive or the board shall be under the supervision and control of the board unless such supervision and control are conferred upon the urban county executive. Such police officer shall have such powers as may be provided by general law throughout the county, including all towns therein.
Code 1950, § 15-384.56; 1960, c. 382; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-769; 1966, c. 464; 1968, c. 797; 1978, c. 558; 1997, c. 587.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 8 - Urban County Executive Form of Government
§ 15.2-800. Designation of form of government; applicability of chapter
§ 15.2-801. Adoption of urban county executive form
§ 15.2-803. General powers of board of supervisors
§ 15.2-805. Tenure of county executive; suspension or removal
§ 15.2-806. Absence or disability of county executive
§ 15.2-808. Tenure of county officers and employees; suspension or removal
§ 15.2-809. Compensation of officers and employees
§ 15.2-810. Restrictions on activities of former officers and employees
§ 15.2-811. Powers and duties of county executive
§ 15.2-812. County executive may act as director or head of department
§ 15.2-813. Certain officers not affected by adoption of plan
§ 15.2-814. Inquiries and investigations by board of supervisors
§ 15.2-816. Maintenance of certain sewer lines
§ 15.2-818. City may petition to become part of county
§ 15.2-819. Demolition of historic structures; civil penalty
§ 15.2-820. Donations to legal entities owning recreational facilities
§ 15.2-822. Designation of officer or employee to exercise power or perform duty
§ 15.2-823. Departments and commissions of county government
§ 15.2-824. Appointment of members of certain boards, authorities and commissions
§ 15.2-825. Committee for legislative audit and review
§ 15.2-826. Department of finance; director; general duties
§ 15.2-827. Same; expenditures and accounts
§ 15.2-828. Same; powers of commissioners of revenue; real estate assessments
§ 15.2-829. Same; powers of county treasurer; deposit of moneys
§ 15.2-830. Same; claims against counties; accounts
§ 15.2-831. Same; director as purchasing agent
§ 15.2-833. Same; obligations of chief assessing officer
§ 15.2-834. Department of public works
§ 15.2-835. Department and board of social services
§ 15.2-836. Department of law enforcement
§ 15.2-836.1. Animal protection police officer
§ 15.2-837. Department of education
§ 15.2-838. Department of records
§ 15.2-839. Department and board of health
§ 15.2-840. Department of assessments
§ 15.2-841. Department of farm and home demonstration
§ 15.2-842. Department of public safety
§ 15.2-843. Department of public utilities
§ 15.2-844. Examination and audit of books and accounts
§ 15.2-845. Schedule of compensation
§ 15.2-846. Salaries and expenses of board members; administrative staff
§ 15.2-847. Budget; board to fix salaries and allowances
§ 15.2-848. Compensation of officers and employees; fee system abolished
§ 15.2-849. Establishing times and conditions of employment; personnel management, etc.
§ 15.2-851. Expedited land development review procedure
§ 15.2-851.1. Optional provisions of a subdivision ordinance
§ 15.2-852. Disclosures in land use proceedings
§ 15.2-853. Commission on human rights; human rights ordinance
§ 15.2-856. Changes in boundaries of districts
§ 15.2-857. Judicial review; mandamus
§ 15.2-858. Creation, enlargement, contraction, etc., of sanitary districts