Deputy Giovanni Cucci – Deputy of Month – July 2017

Field Services – Deputy Cucci, through keen investigative skills and unwavering persistence, recovered stolen property and made six arrests related to these thefts.

Deputy Casey Scott – Deputy of Month – October 2017

Field Services – Deputy Scott, while serving a criminal warrant, was assaulted by the subject’s wife, allowing the suspect to flee. Dep Scott quickly deployed his taser to prevent his escape but was unsuccessful as the subject broke the wires. The subject was armed with 3 razor knives, cut his own wrists and brandished the knives at the deputy. He again attempted to flee and Dep Scott tackled him to the ground and sprayed the subject. He was then able to take the subject into custody and summoned EMS to tend to the subject’s injuries. Dep Scott could have easily pulled his weapon but remained calm and level headed, even while facing personal injury, and resolved this dangerous situation with extreme professionalism.

Investigator Rodney Brisentine – ICAC – Deputy of Month- October 2017

ICAC Investigator Brisentine was off duty when he heard of Dep Scott’s situation with this knife wielding subject and quickly responded to the address to assist and aided in this arrest.

Deputy Kevin Doherty – Co- Deputy of Month- December 2017

Deputy Ryan Hartman- Co-Deputy of Month- December 2017

Field Services – In recognition of these two deputies with their extremely high work ethic, they are being commended for their tremendous effort in keeping the citizens and visitors of Bedford County safe while on our roads and in our neighborhoods.

 Dep Doherty made 2 drug and 5 DUI arrests, served 9 criminal warrants and closed out 8 cases. He issue 60 traffic summons, made 58 calls for service and responded to 28 back up calls.

 Dep Hartman made 12 drug and 4 DUI arrests, served 27 criminal warrants and closed out 23 cases. He issued 21 traffic summons, made 82 calls for service and responded to 9 back up calls.

Deputy Rachel Cocke – Deputy of Month – January 2018

Evidence Technician – A deputy had seized a small package of a white powdery substance that a resident said she received in the mail. The deputy was going to field test the substance, thinking it was cocaine. Deputy Cocke prevented the deputy from doing the field test, for fear that the substance may be much more dangerous than cocaine, and advised that package needs to be sent to the forensic lab to analyze.

 Deputy Cocke quite possibly saved this deputy’s life since the results from the lab identified the substance to be the highest concentration of Fentanyl they had seen to date. Should the deputy had touched or inhaled any of this white powder; he would have immediately been overdosed by the drug.

Investigator Robert Ferguson- Feb 2018

Deputy Ferguson was promoted to Investigator with the ICAC unit.

Sgt Randy Rowland – Deputy of Month Feb 2018

Animal Control – Through innovative ideas and additional training, Sgt Rowland has made significant measures to improve his unit through both code-compliant equipment and new initiatives. Through outreach with local veterinarians, he has increased the unit’s knowledge in animal sciences and has mentored his younger deputies in professionalism and education.   

Deputy David Bishop – Life Saving Award

Field Services – When responding to a call, he prevented a young man from committing suicide by calmly talking to him and removing the subject from the dangerous situation.

Mr. Don Hicks – Good Samaritan Award

During a power outage in Forest, the rail road gates came down, and were stuck. Drivers were driving around the gates to get through. Mr. Hicks took it upon himself to block traffic from crossing the tracks. He knew that just because the power was out, that would not prevent a train from passing through and he was worried for the safety of the drivers. He spent over 3 hours diverting traffic away from the railroad crossing.

 

Sheriff Mike Brown has arranged for BwaD to be honored at the Virginia General Assembly on Monday, February 19th, at noon. The group will be recognized by Delegates Austin and Garrett from the floor of the Assembly and a brief overview of this group’s accomplishments will be noted.

Sheriff Brown is also in discussions with officials to get the group recognized by President Trump, a tour of the White House, and recognition on Capitol Hill.

This group will also be a part of the sheriff’s office partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something, Say Something” program which the Sheriff noted when he spoke at the prayer vigil in Bedford’s town center after the incident in Charleston SC, at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.

The group’s schedule of meetings in Richmond at the General Assembly 2/19/18:

9:30AM: Delegate Garrett, Room 418
10:15AM: Delegate Byron, Room 307
10:30AM: Delegate Austin, Room 402
10:45AM: Senator Newman, Room 604
11:45AM: Be seated in the House Gallery
12:00PM: Delegate Garrett recognizes the group from the Floor

A Message to the Public:

Thank you kind citizens, who have anonymously paid for deputy lunches at various restaurants throughout the county. Your act of kindness is so very thoughtful and greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Bedford County Deputy Sheriffs

The Commonwealth of Virginia institutes a 4 p.m. Law which restricts burning during certain times during the year.

The 4 P.M. Law (commonly referred to as the Burn Ban) dates are:

February 15 – April 30

Open air burning is restricted before 4 o’clock in the afternoon if your fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which can carry the fire to the woods. You are allowed to burn between 4 p.m and midnight as long as you take proper care and precaution and attend your fire at all times.

During other times of the year you are allowed open air burning as long as you take proper care and precaution and attend your fire at all times. You must confirm that there is not a local restriction on open air burning. However, anytime you attempt to burn leaves or debris it is important that you notify the local fire department dispatch center at 540-586-7827 and plan to stay in attendance of your debris fire at all times.

To confirm there is not a local restriction please contact the Sheriff’s Office or visit the Department of Forestry website.

Since 1982, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) has been charged with protecting the American public by ensuring that individuals with diplomatic privileges and immunities abide by the law. In furtherance of this goal, OFM has been working to create an outreach video for the law enforcement community. I am pleased to announce that the video entitled Diplomats and the Law: Dispelling the Myths, and including a companion quiz consisting often questions to test one’s knowledge, is now available for viewing on our website at www.state.gov/ofm/resource/ile/index.htm.

This eight to ten minute video shows three scenarios, which were adapted from actual cases. One of our goals in creating this video was not only to show law enforcement officers what should happen at the time of the incident, but also to give them a peek behind the curtain at how the U.S. Department of State handles these cases once we receive them. I hope that you and your officers will find it both engaging and informative. I welcome your feedback. Please contact us anytime at (202) 895- 3521.