Former Police Officer Janet Byrnes to Join Virginia Beach City Council

Janet Byrnes brings a public safety background to Virginia Beach City Council District 4

“This was a tough journey for me,” Janet Byrnes said after securing her seat on the Virginia Beach City Council. “You know, my husband, he ended up deploying during my campaign.”

Following Election Day, the mother of three, military spouse, and former Virginia Beach police officer is preparing to represent District 4 on the Virginia Beach City Council. Byrnes stated that the experiences that brought her to public office will shape her approach to local governance, guiding how she listens to residents and addresses public safety across the municipality.

Her path to City Hall includes years of service in law enforcement that ended earlier than she planned. An injury sustained in the line of duty forced her into an early retirement from the police department. Even so, she felt she had more to give to the community.

“Unfortunately, I had to retire early,” Byrnes said. “I got injured on duty and I felt as though that I had more to give to my community and I wanted to continue to serve my community.”

That persistent desire to serve is what ultimately drove her to run for the city council seat. As she gets ready to take office in January, Byrnes emphasizes that she wants to make community decisions in direct consultation with the people who live in the district.

“I really just want to try to get the community involved and let their voices be heard,” Byrnes said.

Former Police Officer Janet Byrnes to Join Virginia Beach City Council

Byrnes brings police background to city security discussions

Public safety stands out as a primary issue Byrnes intends to tackle on the council. She believes her time as a police officer offers a distinct vantage point when security discussions come before city leadership.

“I think that I can give a different perspective just because I have that background as a police officer,” Byrnes said. “You know, we do need to make sure that our city is safe, and Virginia Beach is a safe city.”

At the same time, her law enforcement background does not mean she automatically supports every public safety decision made by past city councils. She pointed to the Oceanfront curfew as a key example where her approach would have differed.

“At that time, the council did what they thought was best,” Byrnes said. “Like I said, I would have done or said something differently. I believe that it kind of hurt our businesses at the Oceanfront, and I believe that I would’ve made a different decision when it came to that.”

Balancing District 4 advocacy with Virginia Beach city-wide needs

Stepping into the role means balancing hyper-local advocacy for District 4 with the broader needs of Virginia Beach as a whole. Byrnes acknowledges the dual focus required for the job.

“You have to look at what we can do for the community, how I could be able to advocate for District 4, and figure out how Virginia Beach as a totality could be a better place,” Byrnes said.

She views representation as an active partnership with her constituents, intending to rely heavily on resident feedback once she is sworn in early next year.

“I am here to be their voice. I am here to work for them, but I want my constituents to work with me so that we can be able to do this together,” Byrnes said.