City of Fredericksburg Names Betsy Mason as Chief of Police

The City of Fredericksburg is pleased to announce that Interim Chief Betsy Mason has been appointed as Fredericksburg’s next Chief of Police.

Chief Mason has served as a sworn member of the Fredericksburg Police Department since 2012. Prior to joining the City, she served seven and a half years with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, rising to the rank of Sergeant. During her tenure with Fredericksburg, she has held a range of leadership roles, including Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. In 2023, following a statewide search, she was selected to serve as Deputy Chief. She has been serving as Interim Chief since the retirement of Chief Layton on January 1, 2026, and now formally assumes the role of Chief of Police.

She is a Certified Law Enforcement Command Executive through the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, a licensed polygraph examiner, and an instructor with the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy. Chief Mason is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a distinction earned by less than one percent of officers nationwide, and is currently participating in the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fredericksburg Class of 2026.

Chief Mason holds bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University. She brings extensive operational leadership experience and a strong commitment to professional development, officer wellness and community engagement.

“Chief Mason has been a leader within our police department and was previously selected as Deputy Chief after a statewide search. She is the right person for the job and I am proud to appoint her as Fredericksburg’s next Chief of Police,” stated City Manager Tim Baroody.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be appointed as the next Chief of Police for this great city,” said Chief Mason. “I want to thank our city leadership for the confidence they have placed in me to lead this department. I am proud of the dedicated men and women of our nationally accredited police department, and I look forward to working alongside those whose professionalism and commitment make our city safer every day.   As Chief, I will continue to strengthen public trust through transparency, collaboration and partnership between our officers and the community we serve.”

The Fredericksburg Police Department is a full-service municipal law enforcement agency that provides professional police services, protecting life and property, preventing crime, and engaging the community in partnerships to enhance quality of life in Fredericksburg.