News & Notes

Clarke County Sheriff's Office 100 North Church Street Berryville, Virginia 22611-1110 Telephone 540-955-1234 Facsimile 540-955-4111

2010 Relay For Life

Clarke County Relay for Life was held May 22 – 23, 2010 in Berryville at the Johnson Williams Middle School.  The Law Enforcement Team team raised $3,503 for the fight against cancer! 

2009 Annual Report

Mission Statement

The mission of the Clarke County Sheriff's Office is to provide the highest level of professional law enforcement service to the citizens of Clarke County, and to all persons with whom we have contact. The employees of the Sheriff's Office are committed to public safety, and will demonstrate this commitment by protecting and enhancing the quality of life, upholding all laws, preserving the peace, and preventing crime. We will perform our duties with compassion and integrity, and maintain high ethical and moral conduct at all times. We will establish a reputation for responsiveness, competency, decisiveness, and equality, all of which inspire confidence in the Sheriff's Office for all residents of Clarke County.

2009 Accomplishments

The Clarke County Sheriff's Office was able to close several high profile investigations with arrests for crimes that included murder, an armed robbery from 2007, and several cases of child endangerment.

The office also had its first conviction for recruiting gang members, sending a message that this behavior will not he tolerated. Clarke County Sheriff's deputies remain on specific assignments with local gang and drug task forces. Current funding has been secured to ensure these efforts are continued.

With funding of all services in danger of being reduced, the award of a federal grant to purchase mobile data terminals was welcome, as well as grant funding for personnel for specific security programs.

Our school resource deputy helped finalize the Secure our School program; another project funded with federal grant dollars. The system that was installed allows for better surveillance of our schools and was a welcome addition in 2009.

Sheriff's staff received vital training in 2009, and we were proud to utilize on-line training options for the first time. Two deputies graduated from basic training, providing much needed staff to replace retiring deputies. In addition, Chief Deputy Michael McWilliams graduated from the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.

A citizen's alert system was purchased, which will allow timely notification of emergencies to large numbers of county residents.

All of these accomplishments were made with fewer staff than 2008, as we struggle with budget reductions.

2010 Goals

The year 2010 is going to be as busy as 2009. The Sheriff's Office will assume a new home, with renovations of the Circuit Courthouse slated for completion. This move will allow us to better serve our community, with welcome additions to security and technology.

The move will also allow the Sheriff's Office to complete its Accreditation; the prestigious recognition of our hard work in complying with rigorous standards of operation.

The mobile data terminal project should he completed in 2010, allowing Sheriff's Deputies to receive real time information in their automobiles.

Finally, our staff will continue to develop, through training, our efforts to better serve our Community.

Statistics

*A change in reporting practices, between calendar year 2007 and calendar year 2008, accounts for 200+ less reported arrests. Our office no longer tracks arrests for traffic violations that could lead to incarceration, with the exception of Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

2009 Arrests

Please note, the largest category of offenses, All Other Offenses, covers arrests from other jurisdictions, as well as offenses that do not fit in any other category.  In addition to the numerous traffic and court order violations, these are broken down as follows:

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Updated 2/24/2010