Va. Code » Title 52. Police (State) » Chapter 1. Department of State Police
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 52-8 (2026)

Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents

✓ laws through the 2026 session (checked Sept. 2026)
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section VA-LISlaw.lis.virginia.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

The Superintendent of State Police, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal laws of this Commonwealth and for investigating any aircraft accident which occurs in the Commonwealth, and it shall be the duty of the Superintendent, his several assistants and police officers appointed by him to use their best efforts to enforce the same.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any sheriff or sergeant, commissioner of the revenue, police officer, or any other official now or hereafter invested with police powers and duties, state or local, from the duty of aiding and assisting in the enforcement of such laws within the scope of his authority and duty.

1932, p. 617; 1934, p. 277; Michie Code 1942, § 2154(53); 1944, p. 204; R. P. 1948, § 52-8; 1968, c. 737.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1972–1982 · leading case: Crowder v. Commonwealth, 191 S.E.2d 239 (Va. 1972).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Crowder v. Commonwealth, 191 S.E.2d 239 (Va. 1972). · cites it 2× “By virtue of his appointment as a state police officer, Burchett was vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal laws of the state.”
Whitaker v. Est. of Murphy, 12 Va. Cir. 490 (Henrico Cir. Ct. 1982). · cites it 8× “Under *494 Virginia Code § 52-8 (1978 Repl. VoL): "The [State Police] are vested with the powers of a sheriff for the purpose of enforcing all the criminal laws of this State .”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.