                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF POLICE FORCE (§ 15.2-1704)

A. The police force of a locality is hereby invested with all the power and
authority which formerly belonged to the office of constable at common law and
is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of
criminals, the safeguard of life and property, the preservation of peace and the
enforcement of state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

B. A police officer has no authority in civil matters, except (i) to execute and
serve temporary detention and emergency custody orders and any other powers
granted to law-enforcement officers in &#xA7; 16.1-340, 16.1-340.1, 37.2-808, or
37.2-809, (ii) to serve an order of protection pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7;
16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, and 16.1-279.1, (iii) to execute all warrants or summons
as may be placed in his hands by any magistrate serving the locality and to make
due return thereof, and (iv) to deliver, serve, execute, and enforce orders of
isolation and quarantine issued pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; 32.1-48.09,
32.1-48.012, and 32.1-48.014 and to deliver, serve, execute, and enforce an
emergency custody order issued pursuant to &#xA7; 32.1-48.02. A town police
officer, after receiving training under subdivision 8 of &#xA7; 9.1-102, may,
with the concurrence of the local sheriff, also serve civil papers, and make
return thereof, only when the town is the plaintiff and the defendant can be
found within the corporate limits of the town.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-557; 1960, c. 167; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-138; 1982, c.
38; 1984, c. 661; 1992, cc. 729, 742; 1995, c. 844; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 425;
1999, c. 495; 2007, c. 724; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2010, cc. 778, 825.