Policy Text
Page 1 of 4 General Order 06- 16 – ( 05/29/2025)
SHOPLIFTI NG AND PETIT LARCENY ARREST WARRANTS
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RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SHOPLIFTING AND PETIT LARCENY ARREST WARRANTS
Chapter
6 Number
16 # Pages
4
Standards:
CALEA 1.2.5, 1.2.6
VA Code 18.2- 95, 18.2- 96, 18.2-104, 19.2- 71, 19.2- 72,
19.2- 73, 19.2- 74, 19.2 -81, 19.2- 82, 9.1-138, 9.1-146 Related Orders:
GOs: 01-02, 01-14, 06-04 Effective Date: 05/29/2025
Revised By : Review
Prv. Review Date: 08/03/2021
If any provision of this General Order conflicts with any collective bargaining article,
the collective bargai ning agr eement shal l govern.
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish the guidelines for providing assi stance to various
types of individuals in cases of shoplifting and petit larceny. When requested, Richmond
Police Officers may provide assistance to a rmed and u narmed security officers , loss
prevention specialists , business owners and their representati ves, special conservators of the
peace, and registered security officers.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This general order has undergo ne a triannual review . Department of Emergency
Communications was changed to Department of Emergency Communications,
Preparedness and Response. This change is printed in bold and ital icized t ext.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Ri chmond Police Department (RPD) to provide its members with
uniform guidelines when arresting suspects for shoplifting and petit larceny; and providing
assistance to various type s of law enforcement individuals in ca ses of shoplifting and petit
larceny in accord ance with federal, s tate, and local laws . It is also the policy of the
Department to cooperate with and provide assistance to police officers from other agencies when reque sted to do so in the performa nce of their duties, includ ing lawful transport, if the
requests are in acc ordance with state codes and City of Richmond ordinances.
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set for th in
this general order. Failure to comply w ill result in appropriate corrective acti on.
Responsibility rests with the division commander to ensure that any violations of policy
are investigated and appropriate training, counseling, or disciplinary a ction is initiated.
Page 2 of 4 Gener al Order 06- 16 – ( 05/29/2025)
SHOPLIFTING AND PETIT LARCENY ARREST WARRANTS This directive is for inte rnal use only and does not enlarge an employe e’s civ il liability in
any way. It should not be construed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or case
in an evidentiary sense, with respe ct to third pa rty claims. Violation of this directive, if
proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this Department, and then only in a
non-judicial administrative setting.
V. DEFINITIONS
Listed below are categories of security officers that interact with Richmond Police Officers
and are certified by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) or the Ci rcuit Court
of the City of Richmond . Please see General Order 0 1-14, Special Conservators of the
Peace/Registered Security Officers , for the as sistance that the Richmond Police Department
Officers render to the se categories of security officers . (VA Code § 9.1- 138)
A. ARMED SECURITY OFFICER – A person employed to: (i) safeguard and protect
persons and property ; or (ii) deter theft, los s, or concealment of any tangible or
intangible perso nal property on the premises the officer is contract ed to pr otect, and
who carries or has access to a firearm in the performance of their duties.
B. UNARMED SECURITY OFFICER – A person who performs the func tions of
observation, detection, reporting, or notif ication of appropriate authorities or
designated age nts regar ding persons or property on the premises the officer is
contracted to protect, and who does not carry or have access to a firearm in the perform ance of their duties.
C. LOSS PREVENTION SPECIALIST – A person in a private business who performs
the func tions of observation, detection, reporting, or notification of appropriate
authorities or designated agents regarding persons or property on the premise s that the
individual is contracted to protect, and who does not carry or have access to a firearm
in the perform ance of their duties.
D. SPECIAL CONSERVATOR OF THE PEACE – A person registered with DCJS and
certified by t he C ircuit Court of the City of Richmon d to be a special conservator of
the peace under the supervision of the person or agency making applica tion for the
appointment.
E. REGISTERED SECURITY OFFICER –