Policy Text
Page 1 of 5 – Ge neral Ord er 02- 01 – ( 05/07/2025)
DEP ARTMENT STRUCTURE/CH AIN OF COMMAND/
COMMAND AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE/CHAIN OF COMMAND/
COMMAND AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY Chapter
2 Number
1 # Pages
5
References :
CALEA 11.1.1, 11.2.1, 11.3.1a, 11.3.1b, 11.3.2, 12.1.2a,
12.1.2b,12.1.2c, 12.1.2d , 12.1.3, 26.1.5
City’s Administrative Regulation 4.10, 4.11
2024- 2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between City of
Richmond, VA and Service Employees Intern ational Union,
Virginia 512 and 2024- 2027 Collective Bargaining
Agreement between City of Richmond, VA and Richmond
Coalition of Police.
Related Orders:
01-01, 01-16
Effective Dat e: 05/07/2025
Revised By : Rev iew
Prv. Rev. Date: 03/ 01/2024
If any p rovision of this General Order conflicts with any collective bargaining article,
the collective bargaining agreement shall govern.
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to describe the s tructure of the Richmond Police Department
and the responsibilities of the commands within the Department, the Department’s chain of
command procedures and the authority and responsibilities of supervisors.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This policy has been revised to include a new definition for the Chief of S taff
classification. All changes are in bold and italics throughout this document to identify the
changes .
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmond Police Department to utilize a traditional chain of command
that is a b ranched command and control structur e beginning with the Chief of Police. The
Department is organized into functional commands as graphically illustrated by the organizational chart, which will be reviewed and updated as needed. All members’ responsibilities are relative to their assignment. A copy of the official organizational chart
shall be available to all personnel on the Department’s server. A public version of the organizational chart shall be posted on the Departmental website .
[CALEA 11.1 .1]
IV. ACCOUNTABIL ITY STATEMENT
All emp loyees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines outlined in
this general order. Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations of policy are investigated and appropri ate training, c ounseling, and/or
disciplinary action is initiated .
Page 2 of 5 – General Order 02- 01 – ( 05/07/2025)
DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE/CHAIN OF C OMMAND/
COMMAND AUTHORITY AND RESPONS IBILITY
This directive is for internal use only and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any way. It should not be construed as creating a higher standard of safety or ca re in an
evidentiary sens e concerning third- party claims. Violations 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. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE BY FUNCTIONAL C OMMA NDS : [CALEA 11.1.1]
A. Chief of Police – The highest sworn officer in the chain of command holds the rank
of Chief. Duties include but are not limited to establishing policies, hiring and termination of employees, and the departmental promotional process. This function
administers, directs, an d coordinates departmental activities according to federal,
state, and local laws, policies and procedures, and administrative policies of the City of Richmond. The Chief of Police provides specific direction for the D eputy Chief of
Patrol Services, Deputy Chief of Business Services, Deputy Chief of Support
Services, and the Chief of Staff .
1. Deputy Chief of Patrol Services – The sworn officer who provides strategic
management oversight of all operational patrol functions . The Deputy Chief
of Patrol Services directs the two (2) Majors who oversee Patrol Services
Area I and Area II, encompassing all four (4) police precincts , as well as the
Watch Commanders . The Deputy Chief of Patrol Services reports directly to
the Chief of Police .
2. Deputy Chief of Administration – The professional staff manager provides
strategic management oversight of the following divisions and units : Human
Resources, Financial Management, Records a nd Technology, Planni ng,
Crime Analysis Unit, Personnel , Property and Evi dence, Disciplinary
Review Office, Office of Legal Affairs, and the Training Academy . Both
sworn supervisors and/or professional staff manage these aforementioned
areas. The Deputy Chief of Administration reports directly to the Ch ief of
Police .
3. Deputy Chief of Support Services – The sworn o fficer who provides strategic
management oversight to the Major of Support Services and the following
divisi ons: Special Operations (S OD), Special In vestigati ons (SID), Major
Crimes , and Communi ty, Youth and Intervention Services (CYIS) . The
Deputy Chief of Support Servic es reports directly to the Chief of Police.
4. Chief of Staff – The professional staff member