About the Sheriff's Office

Enhancing Public Safety

Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office enhances public safety by providing a safe court environment, service of legal documents and comprehensive care of offenders through professional and unbiased performance. In this way, the Sheriff's Office fully supports and fosters Chesterfield's efforts to be an extraordinary and innovative community in which to live, work and play.

Duties of Sheriff and Deputies

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) gives a voice to Virginia sheriffs and deputies. Working on many levels and in cooperation with the various segments of the criminal justice system and state government, VSA guarantees unfailing representation for sheriffs and deputies throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Watch a video and learn more about the duties of Sheriff’s and their deputies in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Accreditation

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office is among an elite group of law enforcement agencies having earned accreditation by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. Of the more than 360 law enforcement agencies in Virginia, the Sheriff's Office is among only 82 having earned the distinction.

Chesterfield County was also the third Virginia jurisdiction where both the Police Department and Sheriff's Office were accredited. Chesterfield shares this distinction with eleven other localities. Accreditation is considered perhaps the best measure of professionalism among law enforcement agencies.

For more information, call 804-768-7461.

Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission

The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission consists of representatives of the Virginia Sheriff's Association, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. It has established 215 professional standards by which law enforcement agencies are measured. In providing the accreditation program, the commission's goals are:

  • To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided by law enforcement agencies
  • To promote cooperation among agencies
  • To ensure proper training for law enforcement personnel
  • To promote public confidence in law enforcement

Accreditation Standards

Accreditation sets the standards by which an agency must continue to operate in order to achieve re-accreditation. These professional standards must become a routine way of conducting business in the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office. There are on-going reviews, with re-accreditation occurring every four years.

Cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office takes its mission to enhance public safety seriously. It is this mission that guides our efforts to support local, state, and federal laws. This includes cooperatively working with government agencies at all levels, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, on a daily basis.

Release of Inmate

In addition to the daily contact with ICE, the Sheriff’s Office, which detains illegal immigrants when they are held on other criminal charges, always notifies ICE prior to releasing an inmate to find out if ICE will pick the inmate up or provide court papers to legally detain the inmate. This contact with ICE occurs when an inmate is nearing the end of their sentence in jail, posts bond or bail, or the criminal matter is dismissed. In addition to our daily communication to ICE, we also provide the status of the illegal immigrants incarcerated in the Chesterfield County jail.

Sheriff's Office History

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office has a rich history and extends back to 1749.

Revolutionary War Era

The area surrounding the Courthouse was a very strategic location during the Revolutionary War. Our leaders in this war frequented this area. March of 1775 saw Patrick Henry recite his famous speech from St. John’s Church. "Give me liberty or give me death" were the words heard around the world. 

Taking Up Arms

The Revolutionary War witnessed several Chesterfield residents taking up arms for the cause. These included the clerk of the court, Archibald Cary. Cary was chosen to lead a group of soldiers from the county. The courthouse area became a training camp for the war. 

Of the names listed, Thomas Burfoot was the Quartermaster, Edward Steward was listed as the youngest soldier, and Barron Von Stueben was a "hard core" drills Sergeant. In 1781, General Phillips led a group of enemy soldiers into the camp and set numerous fires. This forced the camp to close. Later that year, Sheriff George Robertson was in office when the British surrendered at Yorktown.

A New Sheriff

In 1784, Sheriff Benjamin Branch was in office. Governor Patrick Henry took up residence in what is now referred to as the Salisbury section of the county. The year 1784 also saw the Jefferson family taking up residence at the Eppington plantation located in southern Chesterfield, where his two daughters were left with their aunt. One daughter died while visiting Eppington and is buried there in an unmarked grave. The cousin, Lucy Eppes, also passed away from the "whooping cough" that same year. The big social event for the county in the late 1700’s was the marriage of Mary Jefferson to John Eppes of Eppington Plantation.

The County in an Uproar

In 1786, the county was in an uproar. Sheriff Branch was killed after being thrown from his horse. The Sheriff had not yet collected all of the tax levies owed and his accounts were in an unintentional snarl. The resolution of the situation took almost two decades, but the county suffered little financial loss in the end.

The Sheriff During Washington’s Presidency

Sheriff Thomas Barfoot was in office when George Washington was elected as the first president of our country. Washington took office in 1789. The county’s population at this time was 14,214, with half the number being slaves.