To secure the more effectual enforcement of sections 18.2-125-18.2-127 of the Code of Virginia, the superintendent of any cemetery in the city shall be, ex officio, a police officer with power, without warrant, to summon the offender to answer before the appropriate district court. (Code 1964, § 16-9)

The police department shall consist of a chief of police, such regular officers and employees as may be specified by the city manager and a reserve police force of volunteer policemen to supplement the staffing of the regular officers and employees. (Code 1964, § 21-1)

The police department shall be under the general supervision of the city manager pursuant to the ordinances of the city. The city manager, with the assistance of the chief of police, shall issue rules and regulations for the department, prescribe the uniforms and report to the city council from time to time on the operation of the department, and make suggestions for improvement as he may see fit. (Code 1964, § 21-2)

The members of the police department shall endeavor to prevent the commission of offenses in the city, to preserve the good order and peace thereof and to secure its inhabitants from personal violence and their property from loss and injury. They shall earnestly endeavor, when any offense is committed in the city, to detect and arrest the offender, to enforce all laws of the state, ordinances of the city and rules and regulations prescribed by the department of health for the preservation of health. (Code 1964, § 21-7)

Subject to the restrictions of the law, the police department may operate a lockup facility for use in detaining persons for periods not in excess of twelve (12) hours until they are properly released or delivered to the county jail.

Although a police officer is appealed to when it is not his time for regular duty, he shall, upon application, whether in the night or day, do all the emergency requires. (Code 1964, § 21-12)

Police officers may engage in off-duty employment which may occasionally require the use of their police powers in the performance of such employment. All off-duty employment, whether requiring the use of such powers or not, shall be in accordance with rules and regulations set forth by the chief of police and approved by the city manager.

No member of the police department shall be permitted to solicit, or be obliged to make contributions, in money or otherwise, on any pretext, to any person committee or association, for any political purpose whatsoever. Every member of the department shall have the right to entertain political or partisan opinions and his right of elective franchise will be deemed sacred and inviolate, but no member of the department shall be permitted to take any part in any convention held for the nomination of candidates for political office or take an active part in elections or in the political advancement of any party, clique, combination or individual. (Code 1964, § 21-17)

For the purposes of this article, the term "unclaimed personal property" shall mean any personal property belonging to another which has been acquired by a police officer pursuant to his duties, which is not needed in any criminal prosecution, which has not been claimed by its rightful owner and which the state treasurer has indicated will be declined, if remitted under the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55-210.1 et seq., of the Code of Virginia).

Lost, stolen, abandoned and legally-confiscated personal property and other personal property which comes into the possession of the police department shall be adequately identified, so that a record can be established by the department showing the time, date, place and circumstances under which possession of the property was acquired, as well as an appropriate description of the property to readily identify it at a later date. Such property shall be safely stored so that it will not be damaged, misplaced or stolen while in the possession of the police department. (Code 1964, § 21-18)

The chief of police shall endeavor to locate the owner of any property referred to in §  20-33 and return it to the owner, if there is no justification by law to retain the property in the custody of the department. (Code 1964, § 21-19)

The chief of police shall pay from the proceeds of a sale pursuant to section 20-35, the costs of advertisement, removal, storage, investigation as to ownership and liens and notice of sale. The balance of the funds shall be held by the chief of police for the owner of the property sold and paid to the owner upon satisfactory proof of ownership. If no claim has been made by the owner for the proceeds of such sale within sixty (60) days of the sale, the remaining funds shall be deposited in the general fund of the city. Any such owner shall be entitled to apply to the city, within three (3) years from the date of the sale, and if timely application is made therefor, the city shall pay the remaining proceeds of the sale to the owner, without interest or other charges. No claim shall be made nor any suit, action or proceeding be instituted for the recovery of such funds after three (3) years from the date of the sale.

The chief of police shall keep adequate records, in a manner prescribed by the city manager, of all sales made pursuant to section 20-35. (Code 1964, § 21-21)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, property in the possession of the police department which has no value, which is inherently dangerous or which is prohibited from possession by law may be destroyed in the manner prescribed by the chief of police; provided, however, if such property came into the possession of the police department as evidence, it may be so destroyed only with the approval of the commonwealth's attorney. (Code 1964, §§ 21-20, 21-22)

When state statutes or city ordinances provide for policies or procedures for the disposal of property which would otherwise be covered by this article, the provisions of this article shall be subordinate to any conflicting provisions such statutes or ordinances. (Code 1964, § 21-23)