Executive Order on Public Safety and Policing

EXECUTIVE ORDER 12 (2026) PUBLIC SA FETY, CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, AND COMMUNITY TRUST By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor under Article V of t he Constitution of V irgini a, I hereby establish the polic y of the Commonwealth as it relates to the sel fless service provided by V ir ginia law enforcement, and further direct state law enforcement agencies to ensure the ir policies and procedures align with the policy of t he Commonwealth set forth in this Exec utive Order. Importance of the Issue V irgini a law enforcement performs essential services in defense of public safet y and the rule of l aw. Consti tutional, professiona l policing enh ance s officer safet y, public trust, and comm unity cooperation. T rust-based partnerships bet ween law enforc ement a nd their comm unities improve safety, economic stability, and educational outcomes for V irgi nians. Public safety i s most ef fective when measured by lives protected, harm reduced, and trust maintai n ed. My admini stration stands with V i r ginia’ s law enfor cement officers, honoring t h eir courage, professionali sm, and daily sacrifice to others. T o further dee pen trust between V ir ginia law enforcement a nd all V ir gi nians, it is critical to publi cly acknowledge the principles and policies that have long served as the nor th star for V irgini a law enforcement: 1. Law enforc ement exists to preserve human life, protect pe op le who are vulnerable, and uphold the U.S. Cons tit ution and the Constitution of V irgi nia. 2. Public t rust is a prerequisite to effe ctive policing and s hould be fostere d through professionali sm, transparency, accountability, and consistent engageme n t.

2 3. V irgini a law enforcement does not enga g e in fear-based polici ng, enforcement theater, or act ions that create barriers to people seeking assista n ce in t heir time of need. 4. V irgini a law enforcement ef forts focus on upholding the rule of law, investigating and stopping cri minal conduct, and protecting public safety, not the administrati ve enforcement of civil status. 5. Investme nt in training, recruitment, and retention of top -tier public safety professionals ensures that V ir ginia law enforcement is supported by the clear standards and sound traini ng necessary to serve safely and ef fectively with the public’ s trust. 6. Colla borative partnerships among local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement, resident s, educators, faith and civic leaders, businesses, and local governments are essentia l for safe communities, a strong economy, and pos itive educational outcomes. The c ommitment by V i rgi nia law enforcement to thes e overarc hing principles is readily apparent, and thi s executive order is intended to highlight their w ork in acc ordance with these principle s and poli cies, particularly as we have witnessed recent tactics by s ome federal law enforcement agent s that disregard these policies and threaten broader public trust in policing. Dir ecti ves Pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chief Executi ve Office r of the Commonwea lth and pursuant to Arti cle V of the Cons titut ion of V ir gi nia, I hereby direct that: 1. The Sec retary of Public Safety and Homeland Security shall support i n teragency coordina tion and the sharing of best practices consistent with these principle s. 2. All stat e law enforcement agencies shall consult wit h their Se cretariat about strategies and approac hes to strengthen community partnerships that enhance trust, sa fety, and problem-solvi ng capacity. 3. All stat e law enforcement agencies shall review policies, training, and practices to confirm alignment with this Executive Order and applicable constitutional standards. Nothing in t his Executive Order shall be construed to limit lawful authority, offi cer discretion, or existi ng intergove rnmental agreements, provided actions remain c onsistent with constitutional requirements.

3 Effective Date of the Executive Order This Exe cutive Order shall become effe ctive upon its signing and shall remain in full force and e f fect until amended or rescinded by further executive order. Given under m y hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of V irginia thi s 4th day of February 2026. Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor Attest: Candi Mundon King, Secret ary of the Commonwea lt h