How do I file a complaint about an officer's use of force?

File a citizen complaint through the Virginia Beach Police Department's complaint process; instructions and the complaint form are on the department's official complaint page.

Can I get body-worn camera footage?

Request footage via a public records request to the Virginia Beach Police Department Records Office; the department posts procedures for records requests on its records page.

Will the officer face criminal charges?

Criminal charges are determined by the facts and applicable criminal law and may be referred to prosecutors; disciplinary action administratively is separate from criminal prosecution.

Virginia Beach Police Use of Force: City Policy Guide

Public Safety Virginia 3 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026

In Virginia Beach, Virginia, local police use-of-force policy governs when officers may employ force, how incidents are reviewed, and how members of the public can file complaints and request records. This guide summarizes the official municipal and police department sources, explains enforcement and penalties where available, and gives step-by-step actions to report concerns, request investigations, or seek records.

Overview of Policy and Authority

The Virginia Beach Police Department maintains operational policies on use of force and officer conduct; those policies define de-escalation expectations, reporting obligations, and supervisory review procedures.^[1] Where city code or state law controls aspects of arrest authority and criminal liability, the municipal code and Virginia statutes apply alongside departmental policy.

Department policies set reporting and review processes even when the code is silent.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Beach Police Department handle alleged improper use of force through administrative investigations, possible criminal referrals, and personnel discipline. Specific monetary fines tied to use-of-force incidents are not generally prescribed in municipal police policy documents; amounts and civil remedies depend on statutory law or court action, and are not specified on the cited page.^[1]

Enforcer: Virginia Beach Police Department Internal Affairs and the Office of the City Attorney for civil referrals.^[2]
Non-monetary sanctions: administrative warnings, retraining, suspension, termination, or criminal charges where applicable (discipline depends on investigation findings; specific matrices are not specified on the cited page).^[1]
Fines: not specified on the cited page for departmental policy; civil damages are pursued through civil court under applicable statutes.
Inspection and complaint pathway: file a citizen complaint with VBPD Internal Affairs via the department complaint page or visit Records for public records requests.^[2]
Appeals and review: administrative appeal processes or collective bargaining grievance procedures may apply; specific time limits and procedural deadlines are not specified on the cited page.

Administrative discipline and criminal referrals are separate processes with different standards and timelines.

Applications & Forms

The department commonly provides a citizen complaint form and public records request instructions on official pages; if a named form or form number exists it is available through the police records or complaints page, otherwise no specific form number is specified on the cited page.^[2]

How investigations work

When an alleged improper use of force is reported, the case is typically routed to Internal Affairs or a similar investigative unit for fact-finding, witness interviews, evidence collection, and review by supervisors. Serious incidents may also be referred to criminal investigators or the City Attorney for independent review.

Collect and preserve evidence—photos, witness names, and timestamps—when reporting an incident.

Action Steps

File a citizen complaint with the Virginia Beach Police Department Internal Affairs following the department instructions.^[2]
Submit a public records request for body-worn camera footage or incident reports via the Records/Public Records Request process.
If criminal conduct is suspected, contact law enforcement oversight or the Commonwealth's attorney; civil remedies may require consulting a private attorney.
Preserve evidence and note dates and times—time limits for administrative complaints or records requests may apply and should be confirmed on the cited pages.

FAQ

How do I file a complaint about an officer's use of force?: File a citizen complaint through the Virginia Beach Police Department's complaint process; instructions and the complaint form are on the department's official complaint page.^[2]
Can I get body-worn camera footage?: Request footage via a public records request to the Virginia Beach Police Department Records Office; the department posts procedures for records requests on its records page.
Will the officer face criminal charges?: Criminal charges are determined by the facts and applicable criminal law and may be referred to prosecutors; disciplinary action administratively is separate from criminal prosecution.

How-To

Document the incident: record date, time, location, officer identifiers, and witness contact information.
File a complaint with VBPD Internal Affairs online or in person following the department instructions.^[2]
Submit a public records request for reports and body-worn camera footage via the Records Office procedures.
Consider legal counsel for civil claims or appeals of administrative discipline.

Key Takeaways

Virginia Beach PD policies guide use-of-force practice; departmental pages explain reporting and review.
Discipline may be administrative or criminal; monetary fines tied directly to use-of-force policy are not specified on the cited pages.