On April 26, 1607, an enterprising 105 men of the London Company sailed under the command of Christopher Newport into Chesapeake Bay. And so the story of the City of Virginia Beach begins as does the life and times of law enforcement in America.

This book began with a vision of a handful of police employees in 1995 that wanted to produce a book on the history of the Virginia Beach Police Department. Genealogist-Historian Edgar Brown, Retired Police Chief William W. Davis, and many others have shared their stories, lives, and collections of treasures so that the reader can experience what it was like to be involved in law enforcement in years gone by. Their generous sharing of time, resources, and knowledge has made this book possible.

This book is written in the memory of the thirteen police employees who have selflessly given their lives while serving and protecting the citizens of the Town of Virginia Beach, Princess Anne County, the City of Virginia Beach, and the United States of America.