Shenandoah County Sheriff s Office 2013 Annual Report 01/18/13
Court Security 2
The Sheriff s Office provides court security for the Shenandoah County Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts which includes screening for the courtrooms using the walk-through and hand-held magnetometers. In 2013, the Sheriff s Office screened over 59,835 persons entering these courtrooms. Our agency moved/secured over 1,750 persons that were brought into court for hearings or taken into custody at the conclusion of a hearing. Court staff served 319 civil papers and 10 warrants of arrest.
The Shenandoah County Jail 4
The Shenandoah County Jail booked in over 1,250 persons in 2013. The jail handled 3,325 visitors to the inmates. The ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) 287(g) program processed 10 criminal illegal aliens in 2013. Twenty-Seven inmates participated in the jail s Inmate Workforce Program in 2013, allowing those inmates to pay off debt such as fines, back child support, and their room and board. Eleven inmates participated in the Electronic Incarceration Program, which reintegrates qualified inmates back into the community under the supervision and guidance of the Shenandoah County Jail staff.
Administrative Staff 6
The Shenandoah County Sheriff s Office provides background checks related to the issuance of special permits and licenses, i.e., Concealed Weapon Permits, Solicitation Permits, and Pawnbroker Licenses. The SCSO completed 1167 background checks for these permits in 2013. The Sheriff s Office joined with Parks and Recreation to provide a Handgun Safety Course for applicants wishing to obtain a Concealed Weapon Permit. In 2013, 487 citizens participated in the course. The agency responded to 201 requests for information this year. These requests come in the form of subpoenas, Freedom of Information inquires, vehicle crash reports, insurance requests, and victim report requests. The front office staff is also responsible for certifying birth records for the Shenandoah County Public Schools. This happens when children are being registered for school and cannot produce a birth certificate. The staff is required to run a query in the VCIN system to see if the child is wanted/missing. In 2013, the agency ran 188 queries.
Support Services 8
All legal notices, summons, orders, and other civil processes issued by the courts and regulatory offices are handled by the Civil Process Unit. In 2013, the Sheriff s Office received 13,279 legal process papers. The Animal Control Unit is responsible for answering calls involving various domestic, farm and wild animals. These calls include, but are not limited to stray, sick, injured, and nuisance animals. In 2013, Animal Control Officers answered 1,927 calls for service. The Auxiliary Deputy Program was implemented in 1983. Auxiliary deputies are volunteers that assist the Sheriff s Office with special activities. These activities include annual fireman parades, the New Market Battle Re-enactment, the county fair, etc. Auxiliary deputies are required to attend approximately 110 hours of classroom and practical training when they are accepted into the program. Candidates are also required to pass written and practical tests. In 2013, the auxiliary volunteered over 2,460 hours of service to the Sheriff s Office.
Crime Prevention 10
School Resource Officers (SRO) are an integral part of the day-to-day operations of the school. Some of the more frequent complaints are assault and battery, larceny of property, and drug and alcohol violations. D.A.R.E. was instructed at all three campuses and over 497 students graduated from the program. SROs handed out over 462 backpacks and school supplies to students throughout the county during Project Backpack - Back to School Supply Drive. In 2013, the Shenandoah County Sheriff s Office held it s 4 th Annual Kids Camp at Shrinemont. This year, 28 kids attended the week long summer camp.
L The Sheriff s Office is very active with women's self defense classes. 104 students were instructed on the RAD Systems of Self Defense in 2013. L There are currently eight active Neighborhood Watch groups throughout Shenandoah County with many of them having regular meetings. L The Sheriff s Office held a Citizen s Academy with 14 individuals in attendance. L In 2013 the Sheriff s Office used social media to report on breaking news relevant to public safety and promote activities the Sheriff s Office hosted. We also promoted community postings on information relevant to living in the valley. L Project Lifesaver is a proven way to reduce search time and loss of life for people that are of risk of becoming lost. Currently we have 9 clients and service all the county. L Several hundred visited our booth at the Shenandoah County Fair. Resources for both kids and parents on personal safety were provided and the Sheriff s Office was promoted. L TRIAD is a program that we are in our 12 TH year of educating seniors on topics of interest to them and their quality of life. 178 individuals attended our annual conference with guest speakers on such topics as Medicare, Identity Theft, and Physical Therapy.
Patrol 13
In 2013, the total incidents/activity calls for the Sheriff s Office was 50,124. We have been continually processing this information to illustrate the normal workload of a deputy sheriff. We strive to maintain an environment where the public receives quality proactive and reactive law enforcement. Noted Patrol Cases of 2013 While on routine patrol of Ashby Lee Elementary School on 05 January 2013, a Sheriff s Deputy observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. The individual in the vehicle fled the scene. It was later determined that the vehicle had been stolen from Waynesboro, PA. A second attempt to locate and stop the suspect was made; but the potential for a high speed pursuit was likely, and further efforts to apprehend the suspect were disengaged. A short time later, officers were able to locate the vehicle, which had crashed. The incident resulted in the arrest and apprehension of the suspect, and the recovery of the stolen property. A rash of mailbox vandalisms began an 16 February 2013 and affected a number of residents in Mount Jackson, Edinburg, and Woodstock, VA. On 27 February 2013 while conducting routine patrol in the parking lot at Stonewall Jackson High School, a Sheriff s Deputy observed a vehicle that matched a suspect vehicle description that was received from one of the victims during the initial investigation. Additional investigation of the vehicle lead to the arrest of the owner s son, as well as two juveniles, who confessed to their involvement in this matter.
Criminal Investigation & Special Investigation Units 15
The cases that were most frequent for investigations in 2013 were breaking and entering, sexual assault, frauds, and larcenies. The Investigations unit was assigned approximately 172 cases in 2013. There were 209 cases generated by the Shenandoah County Drug Task Force Team in 2013. Noted Cases of 2013 In June 2013, a call for mutual aid for the suspicious death investigation of an 18 month old juvenile occurred in the town of Woodstock. The investigation led to the arrest of the Nicole Dawn Miller. On 06 June 2013, suspicious activity was reported to the Sheriff s Office. Upon arrival on the scene of the residence, it was discovered that the homeowner, Phyllis Kline had been robbed and then murdered. The investigation led to the arrest of Claude Delmus Shafer Jr. for Breaking and Entering, Destruction of Property, Robbery, and 1 st Degree Murder.
Awards/Recognitions Service Awards: 5 Years - Andrew Eastep, Carol Greene, Ricky Miller, John Girouard, Jonathan Treese, Steven Brown, Teresa Shillingburg 10 Years - Chris Baker, Ronald Gordon 25 Years - Paul Taylor Deputy Sheriffs Matthew Pirtle and David Moore - Graduated with Honors, 103rd Basic Jail Officer School, July 2013 Deputy Sheriffs Christopher James and Jameson Cowgill - Graduated with Honors, 104th Basic Jail Officer School, October 2013 A Commendation Award was presented to Lieutenant Tom Shelton for graduation from the National Criminal Justice Command College (NCJCC) in Richmond, VA.