Bluefield Virginia Police Department

09/21/2026

Child Passenger Safety Week. September 20 - 26, 2026.

· Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.

· Teach children to keep a distance from moving or parked vehicles.

· Don’t rely on a backup camera. Always check your mirrors and ensure little ones are out of the way.

· Make sure children’s hands and arms are clear of windows before closing them.

· If available, activate your vehicle’s child safety locks to prevent children from misusing windows and doors.

· Always double-check that children’s seat belts are properly fastened.

· Buckle unused seat belts if they are within children’s reach.

· Keep fold-down seats upright to prevent children from climbing into the trunk.

· Teach children how to use your vehicle’s emergency trunk release system.

· Choose the correct car seat based on a child’s age, height, and weight.

· Follow manufacturer’s instructions to install car seats and booster seats correctly.

· Register car seats so that you will be notified of recalls or safety notices.

08/19/2026

Long weekends mean more celebrations and more impaired
drivers on Virginia roads. Before the cookouts, concerts, and
celebrations begin, make sure your ride home is already planned.
Learn more at WhatsTheDamage.org.

08/18/2026

A Great First Day at Dudley Primary!

The Bluefield Virginia Police Department would like to congratulate School Resource Officer Ashley Briley on her first day at Dudley Primary School.

Officer Briley joins our dedicated team of School Resource Officers serving our four area schools. Our SROs play an important role that goes far beyond providing a safe and secure learning environment. Each of them is committed to building positive, lasting relationships with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and staff.

We believe some of the most important work our officers can do is getting to know our young people, earning their trust, being a positive presence in their lives, and making sure they know that we are there to help them.

We are proud of all of our SROs and the relationships they continue to build throughout our schools and community.

Please join us in wishing Officer Briley a great first year at Dudley Primary! We know she is going to make a positive difference in the lives of the students and families she serves.

08/11/2026

School is almost back in session, which means our roads will be even busier with school buses, teen drivers, parents dropping off younger students, and children walking to and from school. As traffic increases, we would like to remind road users to make safe choices on the road.

In 2025, there were 1,612 crashes involving pedestrians, 22,529 speed-related crashes, and 17,357 crashes involving distracted drivers across Virginia. With students heading back to the classroom, keeping them safe should be a priority for everyone.

For Pedestrians:
Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
Cross the street only at designated crosswalks.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road.
Ensure children under 10 do not cross the street alone.

For Drivers:
Stay alert, and watch for pedestrians, especially at night.
Always yield to pedestrians.
Never pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
Minimize blind spots and avoid distractions.

Speed Prevention
Always consider road, weather, and traffic conditions, and reduce your speed when necessary.
Follow posted speed limits and be especially alert to reduced speed limits in school zones.
Plan ahead to avoid rushing and the temptation to speed.

Distracted Driving Prevention
Enter directions into your vehicle’s navigational system before driving.
Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature or place your cell phone out of reach until you arrive at your destination.
Speak up if you are a passenger and your driver is distracted.
Stay alert for pedestrians, bicyclists, school buses, crossing guards, and other drivers on the road.

08/03/2026

Bluefield Virginia Police Police Department Requests Public's Assistance in Shooting Investigation:

On Friday, July 31, 2026, at approximately 8:49 p.m., officers with the Bluefield Virginia Police Department responded to the 200 block of Montrose Street in Bluefield, Virginia, in the West Graham area of town, for a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a 43-year-old female resident of Montrose Street had sustained a single gunshot wound. The preliminary investigation determined that a single round entered the residence from outside and struck the victim.

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. At this time, it is unknown whether the residence was intentionally targeted or whether the home was struck by a stray bullet. The victim's identity is being withheld out of respect for her privacy. She is expected to make a full recovery.

The Bluefield Virginia Police Department is requesting the public's assistance. Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Detective Sergeant C. McCroskey at (276) 326-2621.

07/17/2026

Tomorrow is the day! The event starts at 1:00pm, everyone is welcome to attend.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18wywDPZK3/

Come join us again this year for our 5th annual first responder cookout, everyone is welcome! **Please note the location change for this year's event.**

07/13/2026

Speeding puts everyone on the road at risk – not just the driver, but everyone else using the road. While drivers may choose to speed because they are running late, frustrated with traffic, or simply disregarding the rules of the road, none of these reasons outweigh the risk. Driving over the speed limit is against the law and can lead to:
-Greater potential for loss of vehicle control
-Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment
-Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger
-Increased crash severity, leading to more severe injuries
-Significant economic costs for speed-related crashes
-Increased fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs

In 2025, there were 22,529 speed-related crashes, including 342 fatalities in Virginia. Speed-related crashes accounted for roughly 19.5% of all crashes across the state.

Slow down. If you speed, you lose.

07/08/2026

Come out and join us on July 18th at 1:00pm and meet your area First Responders. We will have food, fun, First Responder equipment to see, and school supply giveaways. Everyone is welcome. **Please note the location change for this year's event.**

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BMwTyMb4H/

Come join us again this year for our 5th annual first responder cookout, everyone is welcome! **Please note the location change for this year's event.**

04/16/2026

A ceremonial swearing in was held for Officer Trever Ford during Tuesday’s council meeting. Mayor Linkous administered the oath alongside Chief Gunter. Officer Ford recently graduated the police academy after more than 20 weeks of basic law enforcement training. We look forward to Officer Ford’s future as he begins his career in protecting and serving the citizens of our town.