Mark Talbot has been chosen to serve as the next Chief of Police for the City of Norfolk, starting May 1.
A veteran law enforcement leader with more than three decades’ experience, Talbot is presently Chief of the City of Hampton’s Police Division. Before relocating to Virginia two years ago, he honed his leadership skills and policing philosophies by advancing through roles with multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
“From the outset of this search, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of the Chief of Police position, for today and well into the future,” said Norfolk City Manager Dr. Chip Filer. “The most critical conclusion was always to end up with the best person to lead our police department. There is no question Mark Talbot is that person, and I look forward to seeing the many great things he’ll do to benefit this city and the men and women of the Norfolk Police Department.”
“I’m honored to have been chosen as the next police chief in Norfolk and to have the opportunity to work alongside the men and women of the Norfolk Police Department,” Talbot said. “I am humbled by the awesome responsibility that stands in front of me. I believe in the value of good policing and look forward to meeting this great city’s expectations.”
The City conducted a national search to identify Norfolk’s next police chief. Working with the consulting firm Morris & McDaniel, it obtained public input from residents, businesses and community organizations to determine which characteristics were most desirable for its next top cop. Frequent responses included a record of working collaboratively with residents and community organizations; prior police leadership in an urban environment; increasing law enforcement visibility in neighborhoods; and experience in growing the size and effectiveness of police resources.
Talbot’s career began with a corrections agency in Chester County, Pennsylvania, before he joined the nearby Reading Police Department in 1994. He advanced from officer to become Reading’s deputy chief, then moved on to the state capital in Harrisonburg as director of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation. He later spent eight years as Chief of Police in Norristown, a small, densely populated urban municipality located approximately 20 miles from Philadelphia’s Center City. While in Norristown, the community saw a reduction in violent crimes and reported measurable improvement in residents’ opinions of their relations with police. Talbot was honored with an NAACP Community Leadership Award. He later moved south to become Hampton’s police chief in July 2021.
Talbot has built strong relationships with the public to foster more effective policing. Mirroring Norfolk’s emphasis on data-driven policing, his departments have identified concentrations of criminal activity, then arrested repeat offenders to stop bad actors from continually affecting their neighborhoods. He has extensive experience combatting gun violence, and is an advocate for crime prevention outside of law enforcement through educational and social services, plus improved access to mental health and addiction prevention and recovery programs.
