{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1702.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1702.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1702.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1702.html"}],"law_id":73443,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73443,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1702","catch_line":"Referendum required prior to establishment of county police force","history":"1983, c. 341, \u00a7 15.1-131.6:1; 1993, c. 630; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 298; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"A\n\nA county shall not establish a police force unless (i) such action is first approved by the voters of the county in accordance with the provisions of this section and (ii) the General Assembly enacts appropriate authorizing legislation.B\n\nThe governing body of any county shall petition the court, by resolution, asking that a referendum be held on the question, “Shall a police force be established in the county and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law-enforcement responsibilities?” The court, by order entered of record in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, shall require the regular election officials of the county to open the polls and take the sense of the voters on the question as herein provided.\n\t\t\tThe clerk of the circuit court for the county shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the county three times, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. The notice shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county or city or, if there is no county or city attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.C\n\nThe county may expend public funds to produce and distribute neutral information concerning the referendum; provided, however, public funds may not be used to promote a particular position on the question, either in the notice called for in subsection B, or in any other distribution of information to the public.D\n\nThe regular election officers of the county shall open the polls on the date specified in such order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral board of the county and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t\t“Shall a police force be established in the county and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law-enforcement responsibilities?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the court ordering the election. If a majority of the voters voting in the election vote “Yes,” the court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of the election and a duly certified copy of such order shall be transmitted to the governing body of the county. The governing body shall proceed to establish a police force following the enactment of authorizing legislation by the General Assembly.E\n\nAfter a referendum has been conducted pursuant to this section, no subsequent referendum shall be conducted pursuant to this section in the same county for a period of four years from the date of the prior referendum.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264293,"text":"A county shall not establish a police force unless (i) such action is first approved by the voters of the county in accordance with the provisions of this section and (ii) the General Assembly enacts appropriate authorizing legislation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":264294,"text":"The governing body of any county shall petition the court, by resolution, asking that a referendum be held on the question, “Shall a police force be established in the county and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law-enforcement responsibilities?” The court, by order entered of record in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, shall require the regular election officials of the county to open the polls and take the sense of the voters on the question as herein provided.\n\t\t\tThe clerk of the circuit court for the county shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the county three times, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. The notice shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county or city or, if there is no county or city attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":264295,"text":"The county may expend public funds to produce and distribute neutral information concerning the referendum; provided, however, public funds may not be used to promote a particular position on the question, either in the notice called for in subsection B, or in any other distribution of information to the public.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":264296,"text":"The regular election officers of the county shall open the polls on the date specified in such order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral board of the county and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t\t“Shall a police force be established in the county and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law-enforcement responsibilities?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the court ordering the election. If a majority of the voters voting in the election vote “Yes,” the court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of the election and a duly certified copy of such order shall be transmitted to the governing body of the county. The governing body shall proceed to establish a police force following the enactment of authorizing legislation by the General Assembly.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":264297,"text":"After a referendum has been conducted pursuant to this section, no subsequent referendum shall be conducted pursuant to this section in the same county for a period of four years from the date of the prior referendum.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13483,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13482,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:59","permalink":{"id":153749,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13483,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/17\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13482,"edition_id":1,"name":"Police and Public Order","identifier":"17","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:59","permalink":{"id":153747,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13482,"identifier":"17","token":"15.2\/II\/17","url":"\/15.2\/II\/17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59436,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1700","catch_line":"Preservation of peace and good order","url":"\/15.2-1700\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1700","metadata":false},{"id":82838,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1701","catch_line":"Organization of police forces","url":"\/15.2-1701\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1701","metadata":false},{"id":73443,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1702","catch_line":"Referendum required prior to establishment of county police force","url":"\/15.2-1702\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1702","metadata":false},{"id":81008,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1703","catch_line":"Referendum to abolish county police force","url":"\/15.2-1703\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1703","metadata":false},{"id":74490,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1704","catch_line":"Powers and duties of police force","url":"\/15.2-1704\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1704","metadata":false},{"id":78495,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1705","catch_line":"Minimum qualifications; waiver","url":"\/15.2-1705\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1705","metadata":false},{"id":85175,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1706","catch_line":"Certification through training required for all law-enforcement officers; waiver of requirements","url":"\/15.2-1706\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1706","metadata":false},{"id":65694,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1707","catch_line":"Decertification of law-enforcement officers and jail officers","url":"\/15.2-1707\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1707","metadata":false},{"id":69038,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1708","catch_line":"Notice of decertification; decertification review process","url":"\/15.2-1708\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1708","metadata":false},{"id":71374,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1709","catch_line":"Employer immunity from liability; disclosure of information regarding former deputy sheriffs and law-enforcement officers","url":"\/15.2-1709\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1709","metadata":false},{"id":59628,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1710","catch_line":"Fees and other compensation","url":"\/15.2-1710\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1710","metadata":false},{"id":86731,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1710.1","catch_line":"Arrest or summons quota prohibited","url":"\/15.2-1710.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1710.1","metadata":false},{"id":63376,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1711","catch_line":"Providing legal fees and expenses for law-enforcement officers; repayment to locality of two-thirds of amount by Compensation Board","url":"\/15.2-1711\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1711","metadata":false},{"id":63610,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1712","catch_line":"Employment of off-duty officers","url":"\/15.2-1712\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1712","metadata":false},{"id":77061,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1713","catch_line":"Localities authorized to offer and pay rewards in felony and misdemeanor cases","url":"\/15.2-1713\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1713","metadata":false},{"id":87347,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1713.1","catch_line":"Local \"Crime Stoppers\" programs; confidentiality","url":"\/15.2-1713.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1713.1","metadata":false},{"id":60435,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1714","catch_line":"Establishing police lines, perimeters, or barricades","url":"\/15.2-1714\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1714","metadata":false},{"id":81983,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1715","catch_line":"Authority to declare Intensified Drug Enforcement Jurisdictions; expenditure of funds","url":"\/15.2-1715\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1715","metadata":false},{"id":73688,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1716","catch_line":"Reimbursement of expenses incurred in responding to DUI and related incidents","url":"\/15.2-1716\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1716","metadata":false},{"id":54447,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1716.1","catch_line":"Reimbursement of expenses incurred in responding to terrorism hoax incident, bomb threat, or malicious activation of fire alarm","url":"\/15.2-1716.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1716.1","metadata":false},{"id":61242,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1716.2","catch_line":"Methamphetamine lab cleanup costs; localities may charge for reimbursement","url":"\/15.2-1716.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1716.2","metadata":false},{"id":63062,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1717","catch_line":"Preventing interference with pupils at schools","url":"\/15.2-1717\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1717","metadata":false},{"id":75499,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1717.1","catch_line":"Designation of police to enforce trespass violations","url":"\/15.2-1717.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1717.1","metadata":false},{"id":86283,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1718","catch_line":"Receipt of missing child reports","url":"\/15.2-1718\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1718","metadata":false},{"id":82937,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1718.1","catch_line":"Receipt of missing senior adult reports","url":"\/15.2-1718.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1718.1","metadata":false},{"id":68631,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1718.2","catch_line":"Receipt of critically missing adult reports","url":"\/15.2-1718.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1718.2","metadata":false},{"id":85242,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1719","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed property in possession of sheriff or police","url":"\/15.2-1719\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1719","metadata":false},{"id":81997,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1720","catch_line":"Localities authorized to license bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and electric personal assistive mobility devices; disposition of unclaimed bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, and electric personal assistive mobility devices","url":"\/15.2-1720\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1720","metadata":false},{"id":77275,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1721","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of sheriff or police","url":"\/15.2-1721\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1721","metadata":false},{"id":61487,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1721.1","catch_line":"Acquisition of military property by localities","url":"\/15.2-1721.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1721.1","metadata":false},{"id":59331,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1722","catch_line":"Certain records to be kept by sheriffs and chiefs of police","url":"\/15.2-1722\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1722","metadata":false},{"id":67755,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1722.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; collection of data","url":"\/15.2-1722.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1722.1","metadata":false},{"id":70576,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1723","catch_line":"Validation of certain police forces","url":"\/15.2-1723\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1723","metadata":false},{"id":60551,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1723.1","catch_line":"Body-worn camera system","url":"\/15.2-1723.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1723.1","metadata":false},{"id":78195,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1723.2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; approval","url":"\/15.2-1723.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1723.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82838,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1701","catch_line":"Organization of police forces","url":"\/15.2-1701\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1701","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":81008,"structure_id":13483,"section_number":"15.2-1703","catch_line":"Referendum to abolish county police force","url":"\/15.2-1703\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1703","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1702\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1983. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 341 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1983 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1993, chapter 630; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 298<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 506<\/a> and 507<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":58078,"section_number":"24.2-681","catch_line":"How special elections superintended and determined","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-681\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153759,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73443,"identifier":"15.2-1702","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1702","url":"\/15.2-1702\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1702\/","token":"15.2\/II\/17\/1\/15.2-1702","dublin_core":{"Title":"Referendum required prior to establishment of county police force","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1702","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A county<\/span> shall not establish a police force unless (i) such action is first approved by the voters<\/span> of the county<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of this section and (ii) the General Assembly enacts appropriate authorizing legislation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of any county<\/span> shall petition<\/span> the court<\/span>, by resolution, asking that a referendum<\/span> be held on the question, “Shall a police force be established in the county<\/span> and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law<\/span>-enforcement responsibilities?” The court<\/span>, by order<\/span> entered of record in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, shall require the regular election officials of the county<\/span> to open the polls and take the sense of the voters<\/span> on the question as herein provided.\n\t\t\tThe clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> shall publish notice of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the county<\/span> three times, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. The notice shall contain the ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed question. The explanation shall be presented in plain English<\/span>, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents or opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county<\/span> or city<\/span> or, if there is no county<\/span> or city<\/span> attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare the explanation. “Plain English<\/span>” means written in nontechnical, readily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and avoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or special meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The county<\/span> may expend public funds to produce and distribute neutral information concerning the referendum<\/span>; provided, however, public funds may not be used to promote a particular position on the question, either in the notice called for in subsection B, or in any other distribution of information to the public. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The regular election officers of the county<\/span> shall open the polls on the date specified in such order<\/span> and conduct the election in the manner provided by law<\/span>. The election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral board of the county<\/span> and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t\t“Shall a police force be established in the county<\/span> and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary law<\/span>-enforcement responsibilities?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the court<\/span> ordering the election. If a majority of the voters<\/span> voting in the election vote “Yes,” the court<\/span> shall enter an order<\/span> proclaiming the results of the election and a duly certified copy of such order<\/span> shall be transmitted to the governing body<\/span> of the county<\/span>. The governing body<\/span> shall proceed to establish a police force following the enactment of authorizing legislation by the General Assembly. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> After a referendum<\/span> has been conducted pursuant to this section, no subsequent referendum<\/span> shall be conducted pursuant to this section in the same county<\/span> for a period of four years from the date of the prior referendum<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREFERENDUM REQUIRED PRIOR TO ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTY POLICE FORCE (\u00a7 15.2-1702)\n\nA. A county shall not establish a police force unless (i) such action is first\napproved by the voters of the county in accordance with the provisions of this\nsection and (ii) the General Assembly enacts appropriate authorizing\nlegislation.\n\nB. The governing body of any county shall petition the court, by resolution,\nasking that a referendum be held on the question, “Shall a police force be\nestablished in the county and the sheriff’s office be relieved of primary\nlaw-enforcement responsibilities?” The court, by order entered of record\nin accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title\n24.2, shall require the regular election officials of the county to open the\npolls and take the sense of the voters on the question as herein provided.\n\t\t\tThe clerk of the circuit court for the county shall publish notice of the\nelection in a newspaper of general circulation in the county three times, with\nthe first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice\nappearing no less than seven days before the election. The notice shall contain\nthe ballot question and a statement of not more than 500 words on the proposed\nquestion. The explanation shall be presented in plain English, shall be limited\nto a neutral explanation, and shall not present arguments by either proponents\nor opponents of the proposal. The attorney for the county or city or, if there\nis no county or city attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall prepare\nthe explanation. “Plain English” means written in nontechnical,\nreadily understandable language using words of common everyday usage and\navoiding legal terms and phrases or other terms and words of art whose usage or\nspecial meaning primarily is limited to a particular field or profession.\n\nC. The county may expend public funds to produce and distribute neutral\ninformation concerning the referendum; provided, however, public funds may not\nbe used to promote a particular position on the question, either in the notice\ncalled for in subsection B, or in any other distribution of information to the\npublic.\n\nD. The regular election officers of the county shall open the polls on the date\nspecified in such order and conduct the election in the manner provided by law.\nThe election shall be by ballot which shall be prepared by the electoral board\nof the county and on which shall be printed the following:\n\t\t\t“Shall a police force be established in the county and the\nsheriff’s office be relieved of primary law-enforcement responsibilities?\n\t\t\t[ ] Yes\n\t\t\t[ ] No”\n\t\t\tThe ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other\nelections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the court\nordering the election. If a majority of the voters voting in the election vote\n“Yes,” the court shall enter an order proclaiming the results of the\nelection and a duly certified copy of such order shall be transmitted to the\ngoverning body of the county. The governing body shall proceed to establish a\npolice force following the enactment of authorizing legislation by the General\nAssembly.\n\nE. After a referendum has been conducted pursuant to this section, no subsequent\nreferendum shall be conducted pursuant to this section in the same county for a\nperiod of four years from the date of the prior referendum.\n\nHISTORY: 1983, c. 341, \u00a7 15.1-131.6:1; 1993, c. 630; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c.\n298; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}