How do I request a copy of a police report?

Submit a records request to the Virginia Beach Police Records Division or a FOIA request through the City Clerk; provide incident details and identification as required. See the Police Records Division and City Clerk pages for submission instructions.

How do I file a complaint against a police officer?

File a citizen complaint with the Police Department's Professional Standards office by using the contact and complaint procedures on the department page; an internal review will be opened per departmental policy.

Are there fees or timelines for records requests?

Fees and specific response timelines are described on the City Clerk and Records Division pages; if the city page does not list a fee, contact the office directly for current rates.

Virginia Beach Police Records & Complaints Guide

Public Safety Virginia 4 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026

In Virginia Beach, Virginia, requests for police records and filing complaints follow city procedures and state public-records rules. This guide explains where to submit requests, how to file a citizen complaint against an officer, typical timelines, and the offices that handle appeals and review. Use the Police Records Division for incident reports and the City Clerk for broader public-records requests; file complaints with the Police Department's Professional Standards office to initiate an internal review. Police Records Division^[1] City Clerk - Public Records^[2] Professional Standards / Citizen Complaint^[3]

Penalties & Enforcement

The city and police department describe administrative and disciplinary outcomes for substantiated misconduct, and Virginia law governs public-records compliance. Specific fine amounts and per-day penalties for FOIA or records violations are not specified on the cited city pages; see the official links for procedures and contact points.

Enforcers: Virginia Beach Police Department Professional Standards (internal affairs) handles complaints and administrative discipline; ultimate civil penalties or criminal charges follow state processes.
Complaints trigger an administrative review by Professional Standards.
Fines and monetary penalties: not specified on the cited pages for city-administered penalties; refer to the linked official pages or Virginia Code for statutory fines.
Escalation and repeat offences: the city pages do not list fixed escalation amounts or stepwise fine ranges; disciplinary escalation is administrative and may include warnings, suspension, demotion, or termination.
Non-monetary sanctions: reprimand, counseling, suspension without pay, reassignment, or termination are typical administrative outcomes when misconduct is sustained (specifics not specified on the cited page).
Inspection, complaint intake, and contact: submit a complaint to Professional Standards via the Police Department page or contact the Records Division for report requests.
If you fear retaliation, note that internal policies restrict retaliatory actions—raise this in your complaint.
Appeal and review: appeal routes and time limits for disciplinary decisions or records denials are not fully listed on the cited city pages; the City Clerk or Professional Standards page provides procedural contacts for review.

Applications & Forms

Where available, the city provides forms for public-records requests and citizen complaints. If a specific police-report request form or fee schedule is not posted on the Records page, the City Clerk accepts formal FOIA requests as described on its public-records page.

Police report requests: Records Division processes incident and accident reports; check the Police Records Division page for request method and hours.
Some reports require identity verification before release.
Public Records/FOIA requests: submit via the City Clerk's public records instructions; the city lists submission methods and any form to use on its page.
Fees: any specific copy or retrieval fees are not specified on the cited pages; consult the Records Division or City Clerk for current fee schedules.

How to File a Complaint and Request Records

Follow these action steps to get records or file a complaint: identify the record type, gather identifying details (date, location, names, report number if known), submit a written request to the Records Division or City Clerk, and file a complaint with Professional Standards if alleging officer misconduct. Keep copies of your submissions and note dates for any statutory deadlines.

Step: Identify record type and date range before requesting.
Step: Use the Records Division or City Clerk submission methods linked above to send a written request.
Step: For complaints, contact Professional Standards to learn required forms or interview procedures.
Step: If denied, request the reason in writing and follow the appeal contacts listed by the department.

FAQ

How do I request a copy of a police report?: Submit a records request to the Virginia Beach Police Records Division or a FOIA request through the City Clerk; provide incident details and identification as required. See the Police Records Division and City Clerk pages for submission instructions.^[1]^[2]
How do I file a complaint against a police officer?: File a citizen complaint with the Police Department's Professional Standards office by using the contact and complaint procedures on the department page; an internal review will be opened per departmental policy.^[3]
Are there fees or timelines for records requests?: Fees and specific response timelines are described on the City Clerk and Records Division pages; if the city page does not list a fee, contact the office directly for current rates.^[2]

How-To

Identify the specific record (police report number, date, location, names).
Choose the correct recipient: Records Division for police reports or City Clerk for broader FOIA requests.
Prepare a written request with contact information, proof of identity if needed, and any statutory fee or payment method.
Submit the request via the methods listed on the official pages and note the submission date.
If filing a complaint, contact Professional Standards to begin an internal review and ask for timelines and appeal rights.

Key Takeaways

Use the Police Records Division for incident reports and the City Clerk for FOIA requests.
File complaints through Professional Standards; keep written records of submissions.