Police Department

The Farmville Police Department is committed to assisting the community in providing a safe and secure environment.

The service of the Farmville Police Department includes controlling crime, apprehending offenders, protecting constitutional rights, aiding citizens in hazardous situations, facilitating traffic, resolving conflict, and maintaining order.

The mission of the Farmville Police Department is also to serve equally, every individual within the Town of Farmville with respect, fairness, compassion and open communication.

The constitution always comes first, because we believe in the dignity and worth of the people.

This mission requires officers who are committed to the rules of law and have the unique authority to investigate, arrest, search, seize, use only reasonable and necessary force, and charge persons with violations of the law.

Policing, however, goes beyond enforcing laws. The Police Department is seen as a provider of service to the community that grants the authority and reasons to exist. There must be moral philosophy and strong appreciation of the need for service in the police profession.

A police officer’s life is one of sacrifice and ideals, based upon the responsibilities entrusted to him by the community. An officer accepts the challenge to defend the innocent, protect the weak, and aid the distressed, and to do so without fear, favor, or prejudice. Rigid adherence to those principles set out in the “Law Enforcement Code of Ethics” is mandatory for everyone on or accepting a position in the Farmville Police Department.

All members of the Department should be proud to hold a position that demands so much and constantly monitor their progress toward accomplishing this mission. Your understanding of this mission, along with your input, is important to the Department. Our Department will only be successful if we are all actively moving in the same direction. Let us continuously seek to improve.

September 1993

All employees, both civilian and sworn, of the Farmville Police Department will adhere to the principals of and display the degree of integrity required by the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics:

“As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.”

“I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law of the land and regulations of my department. What ever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be dept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of duty.”

“I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudice, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions with no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals. I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice, or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.”

“I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I true to the ethics of police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession — law enforcement.”