Capitol Police

The Division of Capitol Police (DCP) is the oldest police agency in the United States. The Division’s origin dates to 1618 at Jamestown, Virginia where it served as the Public Guard. Since 1618 the number of officers has grown from a military unit of 10 men to protect Governor George Yeardley to over 75 officers protecting Virginia’s government officials, employees, citizens of the Commonwealth and its visitors. Legislative authority as Capitol police officers was granted in 1890.

The Division of Capitol Police is comprised of uniformed police officers on three shifts. These officers perform their shift functions by means of marked and unmarked vehicle patrol, uniformed bike patrol, and uniformed foot patrol. Uniformed Operations consists of Uniformed Patrol and Special Operations personnel. These sections are comprised of patrol personnel, K-9 personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, Investigations, the Critical Incident Team, and the Crowd Response Team.