Police Chief Chris Settle is the commanding officer of the Department and provides efficient and effective police services to the residents and visitors of the Town of Culpeper. The Chief is responsible for the planning and direction of all Department activities and is the final authority in all matters of policy, operations, and discipline.

Chief Settle maintains oversight of the agency’s the Operations Division, Support Division and the Body-Worn Camera Program. The Support Division includes Police Administration and Records Center. They provide support services to the Chief, Operations Division, and Investigations Division. They handle record management, record requests, logistics, department grants, policy maintenance, and fleet management, among other areas. They are also responsible for produces internal and external publications such as the Annual Report.

Chief Settle has been with the Town of Culpeper Police Department since 1997 when he started as a Police Officer. He is a life-long resident of Culpeper and graduate from Culpeper County High School in 1992. He obtained his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University in 1997. Acting Chief Settle also completed post-graduate programs through the Virginia Chiefs of Police Foundation, to include the Institute on Leadership in Changing Times at Virginia Tech University, and the Professional Executive Leadership School at University of Richmond’s school of Business. Acting Chief Settle also attended the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Academy in 2003 in Richmond, Virginia. He has worked in various roles and capacities within the Culpeper Police Department, and obtained the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and Captain prior to obtaining the rank of Major in 2015. He became Acting Chief in January 2023 upon the retirement of Chief Chris Jenkins and then was formally appointed as Chief of Police in February 2023. Chief Settle served as an assistant to the agency’s Accreditation Manager from 2005-2011 and now serves as the agency’s Accreditation Manager. He oversaw the agency’s reaccreditation in 2014, 2017, and 2021. Chief Settle also serves as a CALEA Assessor and Team Leader since 2008, assessing other professional law enforcement agencies across the country.