Office of the Police Chief

The Office of the Chief is composed of staff who report directly to the Police Chief, including finance, public relations, and professional responsibility (formerly known as Internal Investigations).
Page updated on December 10, 2024 at 3:22 PM
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APD Chief McGuire 2024 photo

Welcome to the Alexandria Police Department website. I’m Chief Tarrick McGuire. On behalf of the men and women I’m fortunate to call colleagues, I want to share a few words about what drives us. We are proud to serve and protect the Alexandria community and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and service. 

At the core of our mission is a dedication to ensuring that every interaction with members of the community is respectful, fair, and just. Guided by the principles of the U.S. Constitution, we strive to balance upholding public safety with safeguarding individual rights. 

We believe that developing strong relationships, both in the community and in the region, is key to effective policing. Through collaboration with residents, businesses, and other local organizations, we can address concerns and create safer neighborhoods for everyone.

By sharing what we’re doing openly with those stakeholders, we can foster trust and encourage involvement. That belief is at the core of our 100-Day Action Plan, which you can review here. Your input is invaluable to the success of public safety in our city. In the coming months we’ll be hosting a series of in-person town halls and we hope you’ll join us for conversation and feedback. 

At the core of our mission is a dedication to ensuring that every interaction with members of the community is respectful, fair, and just. Guided by the principles of the U.S. Constitution, we strive to balance upholding public safety with safeguarding individual rights. 

This website is designed to provide you with important information about our department, our programs, and the ways we are working to make our community stronger. As we move further into our 100-Day Action Plan, we will continue to provide regular updates throughout our Alexandria Police Department webpages. We encourage you to explore the resources available, and we invite you to connect with us. 

Thank you for your support. Together, we can continue building a community that is safe, secure, and respectful for all.  

- Chief of Police, Tarrick McGuire

Office of Professional Responsibility

The Office of Professional Responsibility serves as a conduit of information for and provides coordination of efforts among the Police Department, the City Manager's Office, City Council and other City agencies in response to requests and inquiries from the public.

It is the Alexandria Police Department's policy to require its employees to obey all laws and department rules and to treat all persons fairly and with respect. To maintain public trust and confidence, it is also the policy of this department to objectively and thoroughly investigate all allegations of wrongdoing and to consistently and fairly administer discipline when appropriate. Public faith and trust in the Police Department and its employees are essential to the accomplishment our mission.

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Public Information Office

The Alexandria Police Department Public Information Office operates on the understanding that social and traditional media are important and valuable resources to help keep the Alexandria community informed of serious crimes, safety issues, and department events. The Public Information Office is staffed by a civilian Commander and a civilian Public Information Officer.

Public Information Officers (PIOs) respond to serious crimes, critical crash scenes, and police scenes where the media is present. In addition, PIOs are responsible for notifying the City Manager about certain events and offenses that occur within the City. The Public Information Office is staffed Monday through Friday. PIOs are on-call and available 24 hours a day to answer requests from the media, department staff and the City Manager's Office.

The Public Information Office notifies the public of the following incidents:

  • Homicides/Suspicious Death
  • Felonious Assault (resulting in serious injury)
  • Sexual Assaults Involving Strangers
  • Fatal Crashes
  • Missing/Endangered child or senior citizen
  • Hostage/Barricade situation
  • Officer-involved shooting 
  • “Shots fired” calls (with evidence of a crime)
  • Usage of a helicopter
  • Commercial Robbery or any robbery involving serious injury

Follow the Alexandria Police Department on social media for the latest updates on police incidents and community events.

The PIO can be contacted by phone: 703.746.6600 or email: APDNews@alexandriava.gov.