VIRGINIA BEACH

The city’s police chief said today he will retire in June.

Virginia Beach Police Chief A.M. "Jake" Jacocks Jr. has been a member of the police department for 38 years and has served as chief since March 2000, a city news release said.

As chief, Jacocks was responsible for providing police services to a population of more than 435,000 with a staff of nearly 1,000 - 816 sworn staffers and 167 civilian staffers - and a budget of $88 million. When he started as chief it was 734 sworn officers and a budget of $58 million.

Jacocks was hired as a clerk in 1971 and then patrolman two years later and said in an interview with the Virginian-Pilot in 2000 that he is proof that if he can become police chief.

During his years in the department he also held posts in all four precincts, special operations, the detective bureau and the Office of Professional Standards. Prior to being named chief, he had served as acting chief following former Chief Charles R. Wall's retirement.