15.2-1711 - Providing legal fees and expenses for law-enforcement officers; repayment to locality of two-thirds of amount by Compensation Board. - Virginia Statutes

§ 15.2-1711. Providing legal fees and expenses for law-enforcement officers;repayment to locality of two-thirds of amount by Compensation Board.

If any law-enforcement officer is investigated, arrested or indicted orotherwise prosecuted on any criminal charge arising out of any act committedin the discharge of his official duties, and no charges are brought, thecharge is subsequently dismissed or upon trial he is found not guilty, thegoverning body of the locality wherein he is appointed may reimburse suchofficer for reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by him in defense ofsuch investigation or charge; such reimbursement shall be paid from thetreasury of the locality.

When a governing body reimburses its sheriff or a law-enforcement officer inthe sheriff's employment for reasonable legal fees and expenses as providedfor in this section, then, upon certification of the reimbursement to theChairman of the Compensation Board by the presiding officer of the governingbody, the Compensation Board shall pay to the applicable locality two-thirdsof the amount so certified.

(1975, c. 31, § 15.1-131.6; 1979, c. 600; 1980, c. 106; 1985, c. 321; 1997,c. 587.)