Virginia Marine Police
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The Virginia Marine Police comprises the largest division within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Approximately 83 of the agency's 166 personnel are assigned to the law enforcement division.
The Virginia Marine Police have statewide jurisdiction in the commonwealth of Virginia. A little known fact of the Virginia Marine Police is that they actually have more jurisdiction than a Virginia State Trooper. The Virginia Marine Police have authority over both water and land, whereas State Troopers only have jurisdiction over land, with the exception of investigating Aviation incidents that occur in the water-these are a joint operation between Virginia Marine Police, State Police, Local Jurisdictions and sometimes Game and Inland Fisheries, all dependent on what water body the crash occurred in.
The Virginia Marine Police are also sworn federal deputies. This is to allow them to enforce Federal law under the Joint Enforcement Agreement that the Virginia Marine Police maintain with NOAA.
