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Powhatan
Sheriff's Department |
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Under the direction of Sheriff Lynn T. Woodcock, the Powhatan Sheriff's Office provides a variety of law enforcement and emergency services to the citizens of Powhatan County. Serving under Woodcock is Under sheriff Greg Neal who assumes the role in the absence of the sheriff assisted by a support staff consisting of an Administrative Staff Specialist, Anne Reynolds, Crime Analyst/Secretary and Sue Andrews, Dispatcher/Traffic Analyst. Included in the sheriff's office is the Victim/Witness Assistance Program directed by Wendy McClellan who works out of the Powhatan and Cumberland sheriff's offices. The Courtroom/Civil Process Division is supervised by Sgt. Thomas Broughton with three full time deputies and one part-time deputy to assist in courtroom security and serving civil papers as well as the transporting of prisoners to and from correctional or jail facilities. Larry Barden, who holds a part - time position, is also a Virginia Licensed Polygraph examiner and conducts all polygraphs for the sheriff's office. Donna Skeens leads the communications section, with seven full time and two part - time dispatchers. They are responsible for receiving calls for service and dispatching the appropriate emergency service personnel. The detective division, which is responsible for criminal investigations, is headed y Lt. Vernon Poe with the assistance of Kevin Wolfe and Dan Giardini. Sgt. Randall Stickels along with Corporals Adam Sadler and Kenny Stokes supervise the patrol division which includes nine patrol officers, the school resource officers Sgt. Scott Lane and three animal control officers. The patrol deputies work alternating shifts, answering 911 or other calls for service, doing preliminary reports on crimes as well as participating in community events, fingerprinting, conducting bicycle safety clinics, child safety seat checks, civic talks and providing security as well as other special events within the county. Four of these officers are also part of the bicycle patrol unit which assists with traffic control and pedestrian safety at parades, school functions and other community events. The three animal control officers, including Sgt. Karen Addison, are responsible for animal protection. They handle domestic animal calls and also rabid or injured animal calls and some wildlife calls as well. All three are fully trained and certified law enforcement officers. Jo Corbitt is also licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a wildlife rehabilitator for specific animal types. The shelter, which is located at 4190 Old Plantation Road approximately one mile west of the high school on Route 13, periodically has animals for adoption. Due to the number of calls for service, it is best for anyone wishing to adopt to call for an appointment. The number to the shelter is 598-5672. Throughout the school year, the School Resource Officers provide education to students with the DARE and Class Action programs. They conduct criminal investigations when it pertains to school or school related functions, assist the school administration with security and truancy problems as well as extracurricular activities. Sgt. Christopher DeHart oversees the general operation and training of the office, as well as serving as Manager off Accreditation Standards. Other services that the office provides include a Search and Rescue team which includes two jet skis for water rescue, vacationing residence checks, neighborhood watch programs and a Crime Solvers Program. Citizens with information on crimes are advised to call 598-5658. No name or court testimony is required and up to $1,000 is available for information that is helpful to the office. The sheriff's office, by means of a grant from the Department of Motor Vehicles, has obtained a new tool to aid them in the effective prosecution of criminals. The device is called a Total Station and it is used in forensic mapping. This is a computer aided system that allows the investigating officer to diagram crash or crime scenes to scale. Three deputies have been trained in the use of the Total Station and under the conditions of the grant have assisted other jurisdictions. Bob Wood is the magistrate assigned to Powhatan. He does not work for the sheriff but office is located in the sheriff's office. They are available 24 hours a day but are considered part - time due to the population of the county. They issue warrants based on probably cause for criminal offenses, temporary detention orders, commitment orders to jail or bonding matters. They are usually the first step in the judicial process. Another important office which assists the sheriff is the Commonwealth's Attorney's office. Robert Beasley is the elected Commonwealth Attorney for Powhatan. His term is for four years upon each election and his job is to prosecute criminals on behalf of the state and citizens of Powhatan. This year Powhatan also has assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Richard Cox. |