CHAPTER 245
An Act to amend and reenact § 8, as amended, of Chapter 160 of the
Acts of 1946, approved March 11, 1946, which was continued in
effect by § 15.1-156 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the appoint-
ment and discharge of members of police department. rH 276}

Approved March 31, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 3, as amended, of Chapter 160 of the Acts of Assembly of
1946, approved March 11, 1946, which was continued in effect by § 15.1-156
of the Code of Virginia, be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 3. Members of such police department shall be appointed by the
county manager of such county, upon the request and recommendation
of the chief of the department, and such appointments shall be for an
indefinite period during the good behavior of the appointees; provided
that the county manager shall not be bound to appoint any or all prospec-
tive members of the department recommended by the chief of police, as
aforesaid, but shall have the right to reject the same when he deems it
in the public interest so to do. Provided, further, that in accordance
with rules and regulations covering the administration of disciplinary
procedures affecting members of the police force, including appeals, to be
adopted by the governing body of the county, as soon as feasible after
the effective date of this act, any member of the police force may be
discharged or suspended for such length of time as may be deemed
proper for any failure to perform his duty or for the commission of any
offense against criminal laws of this or any other state or the District of
Columbia or the United States or for conduct unbecoming to a police
officer. When disciplinary action has been taken against a member of the
police force subsequent to the conclusion of the probationary period he
shall be entitled to notification in writing of the action taken and the
grounds therefor, and an appeal from this action to the trial board herein
created must be made in writing within five days from the receipt of
this notification. The county manager shall * appoint a chief of police
whose duties shall be to have supervision over and direct the police

department.