Mark Talbot

Chief of Police, Norfolk, Virginia

Chief Mark Talbot was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Norfolk in May of 2023. A veteran law enforcement leader with over three decades of experience, Talbot has served in a number of roles with various law enforcement agencies throughout his lengthy career.

He began as a corrections officer in Chester County, Pennsylvania, before joining the Reading Police Department in 1994 where he advanced through the ranks from Officer to Deputy Chief. In 2011, he became Director of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation, and then went on to spend eight years as Chief of Police in Norristown, Pennsylvania. While under his leadership the Norristown community experienced a notable reduction in violent crimes and reported measurable improvement in residents’ opinions of their relations with police. In July 2021, Talbot accepted the role as Chief of Police in Hampton and relocated to the Commonwealth of Virginia.  

Talbot has been honored by the NAACP with the Community Leadership Award and believes building authentic relationships with the public is vital for effective policing in urban areas. Talbot has extensive experience with combatting gun violence and is an advocate for both data-driven policing and crime prevention through educational and social services, plus improved access to mental health and addiction prevention and recovery programs.