The Sheriffs Department of Berkeley County, West Virginia was established
in 1865. Berkeley County was formed from Frederick County, Virginia in 1772
and the county seat of Martinsburg was incorporated in 1778. In 1861 Berkeley
County became a part of the new state of West Virginia. John W. Pitzer served
as the first Sheriff of Berkeley County from 1865 to 1870. Since Sheriff Pitzer's
term twenty-nine men have been elected and served at Sheriff of Berkeley County,
the second oldest county in the state.
Through the years the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department has maintained a
strong force of trained, capable men and women who proudly served as Deputy
Sheriff. These individuals have dedicated their lives to law enforcement and the
protecting the citizens of this great county. During this time, Berkeley County has
suffered the loss of just one deputy sheriff who gave his life in the line of duty.
In addition to their law enforcement duties, members of the Sheriff's Department
devote many hours in community service to schools, sports and special events.
The Berkeley County Sheriffs Department is among West Virginia's finest. The office
is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year with one purpose in mind.
To serve and protect the people
58 uniformed officers
25 court officers (bailiffs)
7 dispatchers/secretaries
7 animal control officers
2 community service personnel
Officers are deployed in 3 shifts to cover around the clock service. A new "power" shift
has been established to add officers to shifts when most needed.
IN CHARGE OF OPERATIONS
Capt Cheryl Keller
Child Process and Torts
Lt. Gary Harmison
Criminal Investigation
Capt, Dennis Streets
Patrols
Capt. David (Scott) Richmond
Program Director
SRT TEAM
The Berkeley County Sheriffs Office is especially proud of this group of highly trained
officers who respond when needed to control very dangerous situations.
ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
The Alternative Community Service Program has provided service to the Criminal Justice
System in Berkeley County since 1994. The program was developed through cooperation
with the Berkeley County Commission and the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office.
The program mission is to provide a diversion alternative for selected juvenile and offenders
charged with minor violations of the criminal code. The avoidance of unnecessary penetration into
the Criminal Justice System while providing assistance in the form of Community Service are primary
goals of the program. Meaningful and constructive volunteer work helps the offender maintain a
sense of dignity and successful completion results in defrayed jail costs. The program has served
well over 1,000 clients and contributed well of 50,000 hours of community service .
A Deputy Reserve Unit was founded in 1971 by Sheriff Charles Calvin Bayer. The
Deputy Reserves are comprised of citizen volunteers who selflessly give of their time
in service to the community. Men and women who serve in the Deputy Reserve Unit
are issued uniforms and have access to a limited pool of vehicles. They provide hundreds of hours of free time each month in valuable support to the community as
they patrol the county, direct traffic at special events and traffic accidents or when-
ever assistance is requested.
