Department Highlights

1802    -    Staunton Town Council drafted laws and ordinances for the police and good government of the town. Two citizens expressly directed to suppress all disorderly conduct in slaves and others on the streets on Sundays and to receive $10.00 annually.

1805     -    Constables of borough authorized to superintend
                 police and good order of town generally.

1808    -    Staunton Town Council adopted "regulations"
                for the government of town patrol.

1812    -    Contract watchmen approved; every retailer of                     goods of foreign growth and manufacturer was
                taxed $3.00 per year to fund the watch.

1832    -    Ordinance required the enrollment of male
                inhabitants over the age of eighteen to perform
                watch duties.

1853    -    Council established position of and elected as Chief
                of Police, Magnum W. Crawford, at an annual salary
                of $75.00.

1860    -    Mayor directed to order night patrol.

1871    -    Each officer issued $20.00 to purchase uniforms.

1926    -    Traffic light system installed.

1928    -    Police call boxes installed.

1932    -    First police motorcycle purchased.

1934    -    First police car purchased.

1936    -    Fingerprinting equipment purchased.

1938    -    Three-way radio equipment installed (first in the
                Shenandoah Valley).

1939    -    First camera equipment purchased.

1953    -    Radar equipment purchased.

1960    -    Reserve police program instituted.

1963    -    First African American officer hired.

1963    -    K-9 Corps instituted.

1965    -    Forty hour work week instituted.

1966    -    First females employed.

1967    -    First police science classes attended at Blue Ridge
                Community College.

1968    -    Police lock-up installed.

1968    -    Portable radios purchased.

1969    -    Cadet system instituted.

1970    -    Radio scrambler installed.

1971    -    First video replay television used in Virginia.

1974    -    New records system.

1975    -    First Animal Control Officer hired.

1975    -    First full-time female police officer hired.

1977    -    Tactical Team formed.

1980    -    Total reorganization of police department.

1981    -    New two-way communications system installed.

1982    -    Case Quality Control system implemented.

1982    -    Police officers begin working permanent shifts.

1983    -    Intense city wide crime prevention effort
                implemented.

1984    -    Replaced conventional baton with side-handle
                baton.

1985    -    Department receives first accreditation award in
                Atlanta, Georgia.

1986    -    Stun guns issued.

1987    -    DARE program implemented in city schools.

1987    -    Business Watch started.

1987    -    Crime Stoppers program implemented.

1988    -    Individual officers issued portable radios.

1988    -    Parking Enforcement Officers hired.

1989    -    PULSAR program implemented at Robert E. Lee High
                School.

1989    -    Human relations training provided to all officers.

1989    -    Received Governor's Crime Prevention Award.

1990    -    Received Governor's Crime Prevention Award.

1990    -    Enhanced 911 and Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD)
                installed.

1990    -    Department re-accredited in Pittsburgh,
                Pennsylvania.

1991    -    Critical Incident Response Team and Hostage
                Negotiations Team become operational.

1991    -    Weapons changed to 10mm semi-auto pistols.

1991    -    Robot purchased for Crime Prevention Unit.

1991    -    Multi-jurisdictional drug task force formed.

1991    -    First department-wide training retreat held.

1992    -    Jeep seized in drug bust converted into DARE
                vehicle.

1992    -    Re-organization of Department; Criminal
                Investigations/Special Operations Division formed.

1992    -    Step van donated to Department; converted to
                Critical Incident Response Team van.

1992    -    Police Department re-located; moved into basement
                of new City Hall.

1992    -    Staunton Police Issues, Recommendations, Ideas
                Team (SPIRIT) created to promote effective
                personal communications.

1992    -    Officer receive Virginia Association of Chiefs of
                Police Medal of Valor award.

1993    -    Twelve hour patrol work schedule implemented.

1993    -    Major upgrade of E-911 computer equipment.

1993    -    Department policy manual converted from paper to
                computer diskettes.

1993    -    Three officers receive Virginia Association of Chiefs
                of Police Medal of Valor award.

1993    -    Community policing program implemented with
                creation of COPE Teams.

1994    -    First session of Citizen's Police Academy held.

1994    -    Two officers receive Virginia Association of Chiefs
                of Police Medal of Valor award.

1994    -    Staunton Police Community Advisory Board
                implemented.

1995    -    Department re-accredited in Buffalo, New York.

1995    -    O.C. spray issued to all officers.

1995    -    Special Enforcement Team organized (Bike Patrol
                Team).

1995    -    Upgraded officer's body armor.

1995    -    Fitness exams for officers at Augusta Medical
                Center.

1995    -    Planning started on joint firing range.

1996    -    Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association
                (CPAAA) formed.

1996    -    Weapons upgraded to Smith & Wesson Sigma .40
                caliber pistols.

1996    -    Reserve police re-organized.

1996    -    Radio replacement of mobile and portable radios.

1996    -    New decal design on police patrol fleet.

1996    -    Two satellite stations opened; Gypsy Hill Park and
                Booker T. Washington.

1997    -    First annual volunteer banquet held.

1997    -    K-9 Team implemented.

1997    -    Assisted Augusta County start a PULSAR program.

1997    -    Upgraded vehicle fleet with four-wheel drive
                vehicles.

1997    -    Trained and equipped two rifle marksmen for Critical
                Incident Response Team.

1998    -    First annual law enforcement memorial service held.

1998    -    Department re-accredited in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

1998    -    E-911 telephone system upgraded.

1998    -    Back-up radio repeater upgraded.

1998    -    Communications lease agreement with CFW (tower,
                mobile phones, and pagers).

1999    -    School Resource Officer assigned to Robert E. Lee
                High School

1999    -    First female officer promoted to rank of Sergeant.

1999    -    School Resource Officer assigned to Shelburne
                Middle School.

1999    -    Hosted conference of the mid-east region of the
                International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC).

1999    -    Department's senior chaplain served as president of
                the mid-east chapter of ICPC.

2000    -    First Youth Police Academy.

2000    -    Police Department web site goes on-line.

2000    -    Chief selected as President of Virginia Chiefs'
                Association.    

2000    -    Groundbreaking for the new Police Academy at Blue
                Ridge Community College. Follow the construction
                by clicking here.

2001    -    Motorcycle officer implemented.

2001    -    Department accredited for fifth time in St. Louis,
                Missouri

2001    -    Accreditation commemorative badge issued

2001    -    RAID response plan designed and implemented.

2001    -    Co-hosted annual Virginia Chiefs of Police
                conference

2002    -    Implemented School Resource Officer program in
                City elementary schools.

2002    -    Animal Control Officer upgraded to sworn officer
                position.

2002    -    First Department female graduate of the FBI
                National Academy.

2002    -    Department technology committee formed.

2002    -    Two children's books involving Department
                personnel, Chase and Rescue, written by local
                author published by Random House. 

2003    -    E-911 Center begins directly accepting cellular 911 calls.

2003    -    Major upgrade to radio equipment in E-911 Center.

2003    -    First female promoted to rank of Captain.

2003    -    Chief of Police G.L. "Butch" Wells retires June 30,
                after serving nearly seventeen years as
                Department's police chief.

2003    -    Appointed first Public Information Officer.

2003    -    Department K-9 "Kally" retired; replaced by "Niko".

2003    -    Officers equipped with "less-lethal" bean bag
                rounds.

2004    -    Department accredited for sixth time (Buffalo, New
                York).

2004     -    Department Records Management System (RMS)
                 software upgraded.

2004     -    "Shop with a Cop" program started to benefit
                 underprivileged youth during Christmas season.

2005    -     Officers equipped with "less-lethal" tasers.

2005    -     Department Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
                 software upgraded.

2005    -     Weapons upgraded to Sig Sauer P226 .40 caliber
                 pistols.

2005    -     First officer assigned to REgional Anti-Gang Task
                 Force.

2006    -     New Critical Incident Response Team vehicle
                 purchased through grant funding.

2006    -      Department's E-911 Center furniture and
                  telephone equipment upgraded.

2006    -     Newly created supervisory positions in E-911
                 Center are filled as four Dispatch Team Leaders are
                 promoted.

2006    -     Police Department equipped with Live-Scan
                 fingerprinting station that allows for electronic
                 submission of fingerprints.

2006    -     New Staunton-Augusta-Wayesboro Regional Firing
                 Range opens at new site in Jollivue.

2006    -     Opening for new Middle River Regional Jail facility in
                 Verona.

2007    -     Department accredited for seventh time (Montreal,
                 Canada).

2007    -     Department honored as CALEA "Flagship Agency"
                 as model law enforcement agency

2007    -     Department joins Augusta County Sheriff's Office,
                 Waynesboro Police Department and Virginia State
                 Police to establish WASSSP regional drug and gang
                 task force; two officers assigned full-time to the
                 task force.

2007    -     E-911 Center becomes Phase II compliant for
                 wireless telephone calls.

2008    -     Department hosted mid-year conference of Virginia
                 Association of Chiefs of Police at Stonewall
                 Jackson Hotel

2008    -     Arrest made in High's Ice Cream Store double