About the LPD

The Lynchburg Police Department is a dynamic, progressive agency that serves a thriving city of nearly 84,000. The 176 sworn officers of the department partner with and protect our residents and visitors through a community policing philosophy that prioritizes accountability and collaboration. The LPD has countless opportunities for officers to participate in specialized units, including a K-9 Unit, Tactical Unit, Intelligence Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and much more. With a career progression system that allows officers to move from Police Officer to Police Officer III within four years of coming off of field training, the potential for growth in a career at the LPD is endless.

Since its foundation in 1805, the LPD has remained at the forefront of modern policing, and today our officers receive advanced training, including field force, crisis intervention, interview and interrogation, investigations, leadership training, and much more! Members of the LPD make a difference in the lives of our community every day. We will always be there to answer the call – whether our residents need protection from a violent partner, advice about a fraud scam, or rescuing from a hostage situation. We are your partners and your protectors.

Annual Budget

$32.2 Million Budget for Fiscal Year 2025

82% of that cost is salary and benefits

18% of that cost is operations

Grants

Over the past decade, we have applied for and been awarded more than $1 million in grant funding to supplement our budget. Some of the more notable grants include the following. Please note this list is not all-inclusive and does not include the many grants we have received in the past.

  • BPV – $60,000 to assist in the cost of bullet proof vest s for our officers. 
  • COPS – $125,000 over five years for sworn officer position. 
  • DMV Highway Safety (Alcohol) – $23,056 for selective DUI activities, alcohol testing equipment, and related training. 
  • DMV Highway Safety (Speed) – $38,400 for speed enforcement activities. 
  • COPS – $400,000 over three years to provide Crisis Intervention clinician and sworn officer response to mental health service calls. 
  • VDEM Night Vision – $200,830 for night vision equipment for sworn officer teams. 
  • BJA Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant – $36,705 for equipment needs with LPD, LSO and Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

Training

LPD Officers receive 880 hours of training in the police basic school. Each year, our officers complete more than 8,000 cumulative hours of training. This includes de-escalation training, firearms qualification, bias-free policing, Crisis Intervention Training, and more. 

Officer Demographics

The LPD wants our officers to reflect the diverse fabric of our community. This remains an ongoing effort of the department.
 
White Officers: 84%
Black Officers: 12%
Hispanic Officers: 4%
Female Officers: 18%
Male Officers: 82%
 

Opportunities

 

The LPD offers a variety of career opportunities for officers, including the following specialized units and teams:

  • K-9 Unit
  • Tactical Unit
  • Crisis Negotiations Team
  • Digital Forensics 
  • Traffic Safety Unit
  • Community Action Team
  • School Resource Officers
  • Drone Unit
  • Honor Guard 
  • Crime Scene Unit
  • Vice and Narcotics Unit
  • Peer Support Team
  • Violent Crime Response Team
  • Criminal Investigations Division 
  • Intelligence Unit