Williamsburg Police Department - Williamsburg, VA

09/15/2026

On September 9, 2026, we proudly hosted the first official WPD Awards Ceremony at our new home! 🏆

Families and friends gathered to celebrate and honor the dedication, achievements, and outstanding service of numerous members of the Williamsburg Police Department.

We are incredibly proud of all of our dedicated officers and grateful for the commitment they demonstrate every day in serving our community. Please join us in congratulating the following recipients on their accomplishments:

🏅 Honorable Service (For their Commitment and years of 25 years or more of Service to Williamsburg Police Department) - Deby Middlebrook, Deputy Chief Brian Carlsen, and Sgt. Lang Craighill.
🏅 Honorable Service (For their Commitment and years of 20 or more years of Service to Williamsburg Police Department) - Deby Middlebrook, Deputy Chief Brian Carlsen, Major Bruce Johnson, and Sgt. Lang Craighill.
🏅 Meritorious Award (For their Outstanding Achievements and actions to Williamsburg Police Department) - Deby Middlebrook, Inv. Steve Roberts Jr., Sgt. Zachary Doss (2nd Meritorious Award), and MPO Herb Williams.
🏅 Purple Heart (For his Commitment to Service while obtaining significant bodily injury in the line of Duty) - Officer Alexander Schultz
🏅Life Saving Award- Officer Meghan Afoa, Officer Jessiah Hutchinson, Officer Dominic Kneissl, Officer Eliam Mora, SPO Derek Roberts (his 3rd Life Saving Award), Officer Alexander Schultz, SPO Christian Spurgeon, and SPO Heather Ziegler
🏅 Achievement Award (For their outstanding achievements) - Investigator Christian Burchett and Investigator Amber Horner
🏅 Pandemic Service Award (For faithful and dedicated service to the citizens and visitors of the City of Williamsburg during the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 1, 2020 thru May 11, 2023) - Chief Sean Dunn, Deputy Chief Brian Carlsen, Officer Marty Bristow, Sgt. Lang Craighill, MPO Taylor Dolak, Sgt. Zachary Doss, Lt. Jeremy Elston, Lt. Charlie Ericsson, Sgt. Matthew Gholson, Inv. Jon Gonce, Sgt. John Heilman, Investigator Amber Horner, Major David Jay, Major Bruce Johnson, Lt. Edgar Jones, Sgt. Mark Mahoney, Deby Middlebrook, Officer Eliam Mora, Major Ashley Nichols, Lt. Greg Raynes, SPO Derek Roberts, Investigator Steve Roberts, Jr., Officer Andrew Sarver, Officer Alexander Schultz, Lt. Ben Smith, SPO Christian Spurgeon, MPO Courtney Tuttle, Lt. Tim Walker, Parking Ambassador AJ Weheliye, Sgt. Alex Willetts, MPO Herb Williams, and SPO Heather Ziegler
🏅 Guardian Officer Certification (Acknowledging their commitment to the citizens of the City of Williamsburg through he Guardian Officer concept. recognizing the importance of preserving human life in all encounters while ensuring safety and security, and maintaining respect and dignity for all) - Officer Meghan Afoa, Investigator Vanessa Beltran, Investigator Christian Burchett, MPO Taylor Dolak, Sgt. Zachary Doss, Lt. Jeremy Elston, Lt. Charlie Ericsson, Sgt. Matthew Gholson, Inv. Jon Gonce, Sgt. John Heilman, Investigator Amber Horner, Major David Jay, Major Bruce Johnson, Officer Dominic Kneissl, Sgt. Mark Mahoney, Officer Eliam Mora, Major Ashley Nichols, Lt. Greg Raynes, SPO Derek Roberts, Investigator Steve Roberts, Jr., Officer Andrew Sarver, Lt. Ben Smith, SPO Christian Spurgeon, MPO Courtney Tuttle, Lt. Tim Walker, Sgt. Alex Willetts, MPO Herb Williams, and SPO Heather Ziegler

Congratulations to all of our award recipients! Your hard work, dedication, and service to the Williamsburg community do not go unnoticed. We are proud to serve alongside you! Thank you to all who came out to celebrate with us. Your support does not go unrecognized. 👏💙

09/13/2026

👮‍♀️ Happy National Police Women Day! 👮‍♀️

September 12 is National Police Women Day, a day recognized nationally to celebrate the women in law enforcement who contribute to public safety and serve their communities every day.

Today, we are proud to recognize the women of the Williamsburg Police Department who serve in a variety of roles throughout WPD. From Patrol and Investigations to Community Engagement, School Resource Officers, and even the Patrol Major, these women bring dedication, professionalism, compassion, and strength to everything they do.

We are grateful for the women who wear the WPD badge and for the many ways they make a difference in our department and in the community we serve. 💙

Thank you for your service, commitment, and dedication!

09/11/2026

We were honored to welcome the Daughters of the American Revolution – Ann Wagner Chapter to WPD today!

They stopped by to show their appreciation, tour our department, and spend some time with our officers. We are truly grateful for the thoughtful goodies and, even more, for their continued support of the Williamsburg Police Department and our community. 💙

We also want to extend a sincere thanks and gratitude to Williamsburg Landing and Mr. and Mrs. Long for also bringing us goodies today.

Thank you for thinking of us and for all you do to support our officers! We’re always happy to open our doors and connect with our community. 👮‍♀️👮‍♂️

09/11/2026

On September 11, we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost and the courage shown on that day 25 years ago. It is important to remember also the families who lost their loved ones, and all those who ran toward danger when others were running away. Many never came home.

We also remember the men and women of our military who answered the call in the years that followed—those who left their families, put their own lives on hold, and placed themselves at risk to serve our country.

Despite the terror of that horrific day, our country came together and stood united, becoming even stronger as a nation.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

09/08/2026

Last Friday, we had the pleasure of hosting the students of Enlightened Christian Academy for a fun-filled field trip at the Williamsburg Police Department!

The students toured the PD, checked out our police vehicles and equipment, learned more about what police officers do, and even got sworn in as Jr. Police Officers! 👮‍♀️⭐ Of course, no visit would be complete without freeze pops with our officers! 🍧

We loved having them here and especially enjoyed all of their great questions. Thank you, Enlightened Christian Academy, for spending time with us!

🏫 Want to schedule a tour of the Williamsburg Police Department?
Contact Senior Police Officer Ziegler at [email protected] or 757-220-2331.

We love opening our doors and connecting with our community! 💙

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

👮‍♀️ Meet Your New Community Engagement Officer! 💙

Senior Police Officer Heather Ziegler is passionate about community service and building positive relationships between the Williamsburg Police Department and the community we proudly serve, which she has done throughout the past 9 years of her career with WPD.

As our Community Engagement Officer, Officer Ziegler works alongside Crime Prevention Offer & SRO, Master Police Officer Herb Williams, to create meaningful opportunities for residents to connect with law enforcement, learn about resources, ask questions, and feel comfortable engaging with WPD.

Together, with the SRO's, they believe community engagement is about more than simply showing up—it’s about listening, building trust, creating partnerships, and finding new ways to bring our community and police department together.

She is eager to serve in this new role, and looks forward to meeting you at community events, programs, and throughout the City of Williamsburg! 💙

We’re here to serve, connect, and build a stronger community—together. 🤝

09/02/2026

Make a plan before the celebration starts. 🍻➡️🚕 That sober ride home will cost you a lot less than a DUI. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

09/02/2026

Riding the school bus is one of the safest ways for kids to get to school, but safety starts at the bus stop! 🚌

Teach your student how to stay S.A.F.E. around the bus. 👇

09/02/2026

🥜🍇 WILLIAMSBURG, THE CHALLENGE IS ON! 🍇🥜

It’s Hunger Action Month, and we’re joining communities across the region for a Peanut Butter & Jelly Collection Drive!

From Sept. 1–30, help us support the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank by donating 16 oz. or smaller jars of peanut butter and jelly at:

📍 Williamsburg Police Station – 615 Lafayette St.
📍 Williamsburg Fire Station – 440 N. Boundary St.
📍 Williamsburg Library – 515 Scotland St.
📍 Municipal Building – 401 Lafayette St.
📍 Quarterpath Recreation Center – 202 Quarterpath Road

Williamsburg has accepted Isle of Wight County’s friendly challenge—so let’s show them what our community can do! 💙

Grab an extra jar and help us spread the PB&J—and the kindness! 🥜🍇