VCOPS Programs

1. Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
2. College Scholarship Competition
3. Officer Survival Training

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Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

VCOPS sponsors an Annual Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award in every City and County for every police department and sheriff's office throughout Virginia. As part of this annual program was ask the community, the local VCOPS affiliate and the local Police Chief or Sheriff to nominate officers or deputies whose courage, valor or just plain good police work represent the best of that particular community.

All entries must be postmarked by midnight March 30th of each year. Entries should be submitted to:

Virginia COPS will present each winner of the award with an appropriate gift and a VCOPS plaque in recognition of the officer's or deputy's service or valor. At least one officer in every agency for which nominees are received will be honored. Winners will be invited and announced at the Virginia COPS spring conference in April of each year at which a Commonwealth Officer of the Year will also be honored.

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College Scholarship Program

VCOPS sponsors and annual college scholarship program for Virginia high school seniors who plan to attend college. The Annual VCOPS scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to the high school senior submitting the best essay on Virginia law enforcement and the general theme "Virginia Law Enforcement: A Commitment to Community." The essay should be no more than 1500 words in length. Essays should be submitted by March 30 each year. The $1,000 scholarship award will be announced on May 1 of the same year. The winner will be asked eventually to submit his or her letter of admission from an accredited college. VCOPS will make a direct payment to the winner's college or university account.

Essays should be submitted to:

VCOPS s Scholarship Competition
City Square Building
10640 Page Avenue
Suite 200
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

The VCOPS coordinating committee shall choose the winner from the submissions postmarked by midnight, March 30. Essay submissions should contain the name, social security number, full address and telephone number of the high school senior submitting the essay, as well as the name, address and telephone number of the student's high school. In addition to the essay, all applicants should include a separate brief paragraph of no more than 150 words concerning the student's plans for college. All submissions become the property of VCOPS

The winning essay will be published by VCOPS and the IUPA.

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Virginia COPS Officer Survival School Grants

Police officers and deputy sheriffs need to be effectively trained and reintroduced to modern tactics of survival on the streets. Unfortunately with today's budget cuts and limited resources, officers and deputies must reach deep into their own resources to obtain the training that they should routinely receive.

Virginia COPS realizes this dilemma and promotes officer survival schools and officer safety courses aimed at preparing our officers and deputies for their job.

Any member of a Virginia COPS affiliated local in the State of Virginia may make application for a grant to attend an officer survival school being held in the state of Virginia or any neighboring state. Virginia COPS will make payment for a three day Calibre Press Street Survival School for at least 20 police officers / deputy sheriffs each year. Calibre Press' Schools are recognized by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for credit toward in-service training. Officer and deputies attending the schools will be responsible for travel and lodging expenses.