Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) social media channels are not legitimate nor appropriate avenues for reporting crimes, tips or emergencies. Communications sent via social media do not constitute official police notification and will not result in police response.

If you require an emergency response in the City of Virginia Beach, call 9-1-1.

For non-emergencies or out-of-area reporting, call Virginia Beach Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS) at 757-385-5000.

Tips can be submitted online via P3Tips.com or by calling Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 888-562-5887. Visit the VBPD’s homepage for more information about the department.

VBPD Social Media Terms of Use

(Reviewed Sept. 2024)

The VBPD utilizes various social media platforms to disseminate information to the public regarding department initiatives, news, events, services, resources, and urgent matters that may affect public safety.

Social media users are encouraged to respectfully share their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about public safety topics affecting Virginia Beach. Please note that the comments expressed by residents and other members of the public do not necessarily reflect the opinions and positions of the VBPD, its officers, or employees.

Correspondence on VBPD’s Social Media

By engaging with the VBPD’s official-use social media channels/accounts, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms of Use. Social media users are encouraged to conduct themselves online as they would in a public forum, to engage in courteous, productive discussion, and share varying viewpoints about issues affecting the city and its residents respectfully. Please note that department personnel do not actively monitor comments.

The Department reserves the right to hide or delete comments/pictures/videos that contain any of the following:

• Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity.
• Nudity or pornography.
• Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination against protected classes.
• Content that violates legal ownership interests of any other party, such as copyright or trademark infringement.
• Information that may compromise the safety or security of the public.
• Promotions of particular services, products or political candidates or organizations.
• Sexual harassment.
• Solicitations of commerce or advertisements including promotion or endorsement of commercial projects including without limitation tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and firearms.
• Spam or contents that include links to external online sites.
• Personal information, such as a home address or telephone number, of another person without permission.

Comments may also be removed or hidden by the social media platform’s profanity filter or automated moderators: the VBPD does not control the actions of Facebook, X, NextDoor, Instagram, YouTube, or any other company whose social media platforms they utilize.

Continued or egregious violations of these Terms of Use may prompt the VBPD to further restrict an individual’s access or ability to engage with its social media channels. If further restricted, the VBPD will extend such restrictions to the use of aliases or other attempts to circumvent restrictions.

If a commenter believes these criteria have been applied in error, they may email the VBPD Public Affairs Office.

Please feel free to post your thoughts and opinions, whether positive, negative, or indifferent, but please do so respectfully.