Why NNPD?

Newport News Police Department is the fourth largest municipal police department in Virginia. We employ more than 400 sworn officers and approximately 170 civilian personnel. We are nationally accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), the gold standard in public safety.

Here are some of the many reasons Newport News Police Department may be right for you:

Earn While You Learn. NNPD's Basic Law Enforcement Academy is free, and recruits earn a regular paycheck while in training. Visit the Benefits page to learn about salary information, as well as health insurance, Virginia Retirement System pension benefits, and more.

Training is a Top Priority. Newport News Police Department has its own training academy, which provides skills and education well beyond what Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (VDCJS) requires. Our Basic Law Enforcement Academy lasts about 29 weeks plus a minimum of 10 weeks with a Field Training Officer. Training does not stop there. We provide officers with 40 hours in-service training per year, which is twice the amount required by VDCJS.

NNPD's Training Academy is accredited by the VDCJS, so veterans can collect GI benefits while in the academy.

Already have VDCJS certifications? NNPD also hires Certified Police Officers and gives credited service for lateral transfers.

Committed to our Community. That's not just our motto. Our commitment to community is weaved into the fabric of this organization and is at the forefront of everything we do.

NNPD has a dedicated Community and Youth Outreach Division, which organizes various programs and activities for interacting with the community, as well as our School Resource Officers.

Additionally, officers participate in several walks and events throughout the year to build and strengthen relationships with citizens and enhance safety.

Fast Track to Investigative and Specialty Units. Newport News officers are eligible to join our specialty or investigative units after just 18 months.

Our investigative units include Homicide, Special Victims, Criminal Intelligence, and more.

Our specialty units include the Crash Reconstruction Team, Marine Unit, Tactical Operations Unit, and more.

We're Pioneers in Policing. From our investments in technology - such as our Real-Time Crime Center - to our innovative initiatives - like our domestic violence and mental health programs - NNPD is constantly looking for new ways to fight crime and serve our community.

Here are some more important initiatives:

NNPD has a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit, which includes civilian advocates who help victims and train officers in victim support.
We have in-house human services professionals who focus on helping children suspected of being abused or neglected, as well as people older than 60 and incapacitated adults.
The Newport News CARE program consists of a paramedic and mental health professional who serve as first responders for non-violent mental health calls. Police stand by as second responders.
NNPD is committed to protecting officers' mental health. We have a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, which is made up of employees who receive mental health training.
We provide Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).
We have a Homicide Support Group for family and friends of individuals who have died by homicide.
NNPD's Use of Force Review Board is made up of both officers and civilians who review use-of-force incidents on a monthly basis.
We embrace diversity. Newport News has a large Spanish-speaking population, so we are especially interested in recruiting Spanish-speaking officers.
We are actively recruiting more female officers and encouraging current female officers to seek promotions for leadership positions.