House Resolution No. 44 of the 1981 General Assembly requested the Committee on Militia and Police of the House of Delegates to study the feasibility of transferring supervisory authority over the Capitol Police Force from the Secretary of Public Safety to the General Assembly. A copy of the Resolution is attached as Appendix I.

Delegate A. Victor Thomas was elected chairman of the subcommittee appointed to study the issue. Other members of the Committee on Militia and Police appointed to serve the Committee were Delegates James F. Almand, Arthur R. Geisen, Wllllam P. Robinson, Jr. and C. Richard Cranwell, ex officio.

The Executive Branch, through the Secretary of Public Safety, is currently charged with responsibility for the Capitol Police Force. Costs and expenses associated with maintenance of the Force are paid out of the budget for the Secretary of Public Safety. Approximately 88% of amounts allocated to the Capitol Police are utilized for payment of salaries and related expenses.

There are fifty-six members of the Force, including the Chief. Seven new positions have been added since July of 1981 due to the increasing responsibilities of the Force. The Force has two automobiles available for its use. In Richmond, the Force has the duty of protecting approximately thirty-seven office buildings and twenty-five state-owned parking lots. Members of the Force are authorized to make arrests and swear out warrants for offenses committed in the Capitol Square. The powers and duties of members of the force are the same as those of the local jurisdiction in which the property they are charged to protect is located. Their jurisdiction is concurrent with the local police within one hundred yards of any property they are protecting.

In addition, subject to the approval of the Governor, members of the force may be assigned to protect any state-owned or controlled property and may perform protective services for the Governor, members of the first family, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General and members of the General Assembly.