Bristol Police Department

Bristol Police Department

The Bristol Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency providing police field services twenty-four (24) hours a day. The department has 59 sworn police officer positions, and a non-sworn support staff of 21 full-time members for a total of 80 members. Included in the support staff is the city's E-911 Central Dispatch Emergency Communication Center which provides call taking and dispatch service for police, fire and EMS needs.

Mission Statement

Organizational Values of the Bristol Police Department
We recognize our obligations to help maintain a safe and secure community. We acknowledge our contribution to the quality of life within our community. The provision of quality police services with the highest professional standards is our primary aspiration. We intend to fulfill these challenging responsibilities through active participation in the following shared values.

Service to Our Community
We value the opportunity to provide service that is courteous, responsive, firm, efficient, and fair. We regard the members of our community as partners and indispensable resources in a combined policing effort. Respect for the individual worth, dignity, and rights of all those we serve is the foundation of our department.

Integrity
We value and expect truth, honesty, and ethical behavior from the members of our organization. We are committed to upholding our position of public trust by maintaining the highest ethical standards and the utmost respect for the ordinances and laws of the City of Bristol, state, and nation. Our role as peacekeepers and enforcers of the law will not be compromised.

Employees
We value our fellow employees as the most important organizational asset. We realize our success depends upon mutual respect, cooperation, and recognition of our co-workers. All employees will receive equitable and fair treatment and be provided the proper tools and training necessary to meet organizational goals and objectives.

Professionalism
We value the spirit of professionalism, having a clear sense of commitment, perspective, and direction. We create an environment that promotes teamwork, innovation, and constant evaluation of ourselves.

Pride and Enjoyment of Our Profession
We value our work as a source of enjoyment and satisfaction. We are proud of our community, our department, our accomplishments in the service, and our commitment to quality law enforcement. We possess a great sense of pride serving our chosen profession with the Bristol Police Department.

About Us

Bristol's central location and excellent transportation connections make it the center of the five-state area. State Street joins Tennessee and Virginia and puts the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina within easy driving distance of Bristol.

Strategically situated in the southeastern United States, Bristol Virginia is part of aa twin city with Bristol Tennessee located directly on the Virginia-Tennessee state line. Bristol is part of the metropolitan statistical area of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, commonly called the Tri-Cities.

Interstate 81 ties Bristol to important population centers such as Knoxville, Tennessee (118 miles west), and Roanoke, Virginia (143 miles east). Interstate highways 77 and 40 connect with 1-81 within 73 miles of Bristol.

Bristol, Virginia is an independent city with a council-manager form of government. Bristol Virginia is 13.3 square miles in size with a population of 17,750.