News Releases

 On March 11, 2025, Virginia State Police was recognized by the Virginia Public Safety Innovation Center with an award presented at the DroneResponders National Public Safety UAS Conference, taking place at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va.  

The Virginia State Police, in partnership with supporting federal, state, and local agencies, conducted Operation Snow Eagle, a concerted criminal enforcement effort across the Commonwealth of Virginia, from February 23 through March 1, 2025.

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Matthew D. Hanley as the Superintendent of the Virginia State Police (VSP). After a nationwide search to find a replacement for former Superintendent Gary T. Settle, Colonel Hanley was selected to lead VSP based on his unmatched experience and expertise.

From January 31 to February 7, 2025, the Virginia State Police, in partnership with supporting federal and local agencies, achieved significant criminal interdictions. Their ongoing efforts led to the recovery of firearms, the seizure of narcotics, and the investigation of multiple crimes, including human trafficking, throughout the Commonwealth. 

With the changeover in the calendar year from 2024 to 2025, vehicles in Virginia that have passed safety inspections are now receiving a new safety inspection sticker. The sticker, which is utilizing the color green for the first time, includes multiple changes from previous iterations.

Preliminary data indicates that seven people died on Virginia’s roadways over the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday.  The number is a decrease from 2023, when 11 people were killed, and a large decrease from 2022, when 19 people died in fatal crashes.* 

Virginia State Police will now be issuing “CODI” or “Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative” alerts to aid in the searches of missing or endangered children. The alert was approved by the 2024 General Assembly and will be issued upon request by the investigating law enforcement agency.

As part of an ongoing effort to increase the number of prospective Virginia State Troopers in the Academy, and out on Virginia’s roads, Virginia State Police has unveiled a new recruitment website and new dedicated recruitment social media.

The final summer holiday ended on a somber note, as preliminary data shows that law enforcement investigated ten fatalities over the Labor Day Holiday.  There were two double fatal crashes, the first of which occurred Sept. 1, 2024, in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.   The second double fatal occurred Sept. 2, 2024, in Henry County. 

With the last major travel weekend of the summer approaching, Virginia State Police is stressing good and safe driving behaviors to ensure everyone gets to their destinations.  Virginia had a deadly start to the summer driving season, with state police alone investigating 25 deaths in the week following Memorial Day. 

On Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, the Commonwealth will graduate its 141st generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 21 new troopers will be presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at 10 a.m. at the State Police Training Academy located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield County. The Honorable Winsome Earle-Sears, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, will speak at the graduation ceremony.

Forty years after his brutal murder, Virginia State Police and other law enforcement continue to pursue leads in the death of Trooper Johnny Rush Bowman.  Recently, investigators have had items re-examined for possible DNA evidence, as analytical technology has improved over the years.  Federal, state and local law enforcement are hopeful that these advancements in forensic technology can shed new light on the unsolved murder of Trooper Bowman.  Investigators are also re-examining old leads for any possible new information.

The Fourth of July means feasts, fireworks, and parties, but the Virginia State Police is asking that it include focus and sobriety as well.   The 2024 summer driving season has gotten off to a deadly start, with preliminary numbers showing 13 fatalities over the Memorial Day holiday. 

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Virginia State Police (VSP) encourage farmers to ensure their eligible farm use vehicles are compliant with the new farm use tag required by Virginia law that becomes effective on July 1, 2024.

Virginia State Police Superintendent, Colonel Gary T. Settle, has promoted a 25-year veteran of the Department to the position of Director of the Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS).  Lieutenant Colonel Eric W. Gowin previously served as Deputy Director of BASS, and replaces Lieutenant Colonel Tricia W. Powers, upon her retirement.

The summer travel season is off to a deadly start in Virginia, as preliminary data indicates 11 people were killed on Virginia’s roadways over the 2024 Memorial Day Holiday weekend, including two double-fatality crashes in Goochland and Henry Counties. The number is an uptick from the 2023 Memorial Day holiday, when nine people were killed on Virginia’s highways.

With the 2024 Memorial Day weekend falling in the midst of graduation season, the Virginia State Police is reminding drivers of all ages to drive smart, safe and sober. In addition, AAA Mid-Atlantic is forecasting a four percent increase in Memorial Day travel, meaning Virginia’s highways will be even more crowded as people head to graduation events and holiday festivities. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, there were nine fatal traffic crashes statewide in Virginia.

The Virginia State Police is offering a first-of-its-kind employment opportunity for those interested in becoming a State Trooper, but are too young to apply. VSP policy requires State Trooper applicants to be 21 years of age by the time they graduate the Academy. The new Virginia State Police “Pathway to Trooper” program helps those 18-20 year-olds who need to find employment while waiting to apply to the Trooper Basic Session Academy.

Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, providing those who want to celebrate Ireland’s most famous Saint additional hours to take in festivities.  While the opportunities to eat corned beef and drink green beer will be plentiful, Virginia State Police encourage Virginians to please designate a sober driver if you are going to be drinking over the holiday.

On Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, the Commonwealth will graduate its 140th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 52 new troopers will be presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at 10 a.m. at the State Police Training Academy located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield County. The Honorable Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia, will speak at the graduation ceremony.

As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent and investigate human trafficking occurring within the Commonwealth, the Virginia State Police is highlighting a texting tipline and web form for the public to send anonymous tips to the department’s Human Trafficking Investigative Unit.

As we approach the holidays and the end of 2023, Virginia State Police is asking Virginians to please drive safely in the coming days, so that everyone can safely reach their holiday destinations.   Preliminary data indicates that as of Dec. 20, 2023, 813 people have lost their lives on Virginia roadways this year.  That is 76 fewer traffic deaths than in 2022 as of this same date.  

Virginia experienced a 53% decrease in the number of fatal traffic crashes over the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday.  Preliminary data indicates nine people lost their lives over the five-day holiday statistical counting period, compared to 19 fatalities in 2022.*   In a majority of the crashes, those who died were not wearing a seat belt.

Thanksgiving traditionally marks the start of the winter holiday travel season.  For many Virginians, this means hitting the roads, and in some cases, travelling long distances to share time, and turkey, with loved ones. Wanting everyone to enjoy this holiday with family and friends, the Virginia State Police is reminding drivers and their passengers to always buckle up.

On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the Commonwealth graduated its 139th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 31 new state troopers were presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at the State Police Training Academy located in Chesterfield County.