Police Department

The Aquia Harbour Police Department (AHPD) is a Private Police Department. AHPD officers are trained under the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services' required standards for police officers, just as, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) are. AHPD is regulated by Virginia Law and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sheriff Decatur of Stafford County. As AHPD is usually the first responder to all calls for service in Aquia Harbour, we have an excellent relationship with the Sheriff’s office and work closely together.

Per Virginia Code 9.1-101, because we are a private police department, we must operate under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which addresses "the duties and responsibilities of the private police department and the chief law-enforcement officer in the conduct of criminal investigations."

Per the MOU between The Sheriff of Stafford County and The Aquia Harbour Police Department 2021, the MOU recognizes the authority of the Sheriff as the primary law enforcement officer, and the Sheriff’s Office as the primary law enforcement agency, of Stafford County. The following law enforcement operations and criminal investigations are incidents that shall be turned over to Stafford County Sherriffs Office:

Missing adults and juveniles
Death investigations
Runaway juveniles
Abduction
Gang activity
Felonious assault
Robbery
Rape or attempted rape
Sodomy
Felony narcotics violations
Crimes against children
Serious or fatal accidents
Burglary
Stolen/recovered vehicles
Fatal or serious injury traffic crashes
Animal control issues (Sheriffs Animal Control Division will be responsible)

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