Brag Post – Bedford County Sheriff's Office

Bedford County Deputy Receives Highest Masonic Award

June 23, 2017

PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2017

Representatives from the Forest, VA, Masonic Lodge presented Deputy James Kirkland the “Community Builders Award” which is one of the most prestigious awards that Virginia Freemasons can present to a community member.

Ed Schwabe, Worshipful Master of the Forest Masonic Lodge, and Berry Willis, a Fellow Brother of the Lodge, made the presentation to Deputy Kirkland, recognizing his dedication to the sheriff’s office,

his passion for educating the public on timely topics, such as ‘active shooter’ and his commitment to the safety of all citizens of this county.

Deputy Kirkland has been with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office since September of 2000, is a professional K-9 handler and also serves as the team commander of the Tactical Response Team.

Dep. Kirkland presented with the Community Builders award from Forest Masonic Lodge members Ed Schwabe and Berry Willis.

Download the PDF Press Release

Two Deputies Visit A Young Boy On His Birthday

August 18, 2016

Last Saturday Deputies Gibson and Hoppes visited young Jacob at his birthday party. They came bearing goody bags and gifts for Jacob.

It all started when Jacob’s Grandmother called the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and mentioned that her grandson loved watching the deputies on the road and could spot any police car, even the undercover ones.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office got some goody bags together for the kids at the party and got a gift for the birthday boy.

Today we received a lovely thank you letter from Jacob.

You are very welcome, Jacob! I hope your birthday was wonderful!

Brag Post: Letter from Local Attorney Regarding Bedford County Deputies

February 4, 2016

bcso

Dear Sheriff Brown,

This letter is being written to express my appreciation for the excellent performance by your Deputy Sheriffs in protecting and representing Bedford County. When Attorneys from our firm appear in the Bedford County Courts, the Deputies are extremely helpful and perform their responsibilities with the highest degree of professionalism.

Whenever I personally have the privilege of meeting any of the Deputies in the Bedford County Community I am always greeted with the utmost respect. Their friendliness and courteousness reflect so well on the Sheriff’s department.

Your excellence in leadership and example of professionalism with a true concern for the community reflects so favorably in each of your Deputies.

Respectfully submitted with gratitude,

Daniel L. Crandall, Esq.

Crandall & Katt

Attorneys & Counselors at Law

Sheriff Brown’s Corporal Gardner Receives National Award

December 4, 2015

The National Sheriffs’ Association recognizes Cpl. Jeremy Gardner with the “Innovation Award” for the proposal and development of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Rural Bike Patrol. The Innovation Award is an award for Sheriff’s Offices, nationwide, whose achievements promote institutional excellence. “The award signifies a significant advancement in the implementation and effective delivery of a highly innovate idea for the institution of The American Sheriff”, states Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director of the National Sheriffs’ Association. “Cpl Gardner has implemented this program and has created a replicable national model for other sheriff’s offices to follow.”

The Rural Bike Patrol enhances BCSO’s community policing efforts and improves crime prevention. This unit is easily deployable for focused patrol in apartment complexes, subdivisions, state parks, business districts and strip malls, as well as large events.

All expenses for the formation of this unit, including special ‘stealth’ bikes, bike equipment and uniforms, were donated by local businesses and individuals. No county funds were used to put this special crime fighting unit in the field.

Bedford County Students Earn State Recognition

June 29, 2015

Sheriff Mike Brown is pleased to announce that the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers, under the command of Capt. Tim Hayden and Sgt. Randy Smith, attended the Virginia State YOVASO (Youth Of VA Speak Out) awards dinner, held at the James Madison University. Each SRO coordinates a YOVASO team in the high and middle schools in Bedford county. Students create campaigns that promote safe driving habits, seat belt usage, no texting while driving and how to be a responsible passenger.

Out of 146 schools throughout the state, Bedford County SROs and their schools walked away with seven of the top awards, over 50%, including Cpl. Ryan Hilbish, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, his school principal, Dr. Leann Calvert of Jefferson Forest High, received the School Administrator of the Year, Jefferson Forest High also received the Outstanding YOVASO Club of the Year. Deputy Chris Cook, SRO of Staunton River High was awarded school Resource Officer of the year and Staunton River High won YOVASO Club of the Year. Student Volunteer of the Year went to Grace Overstreet, daughter of Stephanie Overstreet, who received the Shining Star Award for her efforts in promoting teen driver safety through her foundation “F.O.C.U.S. for ABB” which was established in memory of her daughter, Ashley.

“I am extremely proud of these SROs who instill positive influence through their interaction with these people and encourage responsible driving safety in these teen drivers.” Said Sheriff Brown, “We have lost too many of our young people to car crashes in this county and programs like this have brought that ugly statistic down dramatically over the past five years. I congratulate all the students and the SROs for their hard work and the school administrators encouraging them by embracing this program.”

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Bedford County Deputies Thank Mystery Couple for Dinner

June 16, 2015

Bedford, VA – If you are the mystery couple who treated five Bedford County sheriff’s deputies to dinner Friday night, they’d like to thank you once again.

The deputies were on their dinner break at Applebee’s before returning to the range to train.

They exchanged polite conversation with the couple at the next table, even shared an appetizer.

On the couple’s way out, the woman slipped one of the deputies a $100 bill to pay for their meals, which the deputy tried to give back to the man with her.

“We said sir, there’s five of us here,” said Sgt. Chris Edmondson. “He said I know that and he turned around and subsequently walked out the door. We were amazed to say the least that a citizen would do that.”

The deputies put the change from the $100 toward the tip.

Local Citizens Help Bedford County, VA Deputy Make Arrest

June 15, 2015

FOREST, Va. – Last week on one of Bedford County’s most congested roads, Deputy Sonny Daniels tried to pull over a speeding motorcycle driver.

What should have been a routine traffic stop didn’t go as planned.

“As I initiated lights and sirens on the motorcycle, he increased speeds dramatically,” said Daniels, who has worked for the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office since 2011.

Daniels said the driver, later identified as Ryan Ellis, was heading through Forest on Route 221 at speeds that are considered reckless under Virginia law.

It was around 5 in the afternoon and the road was packed with drivers heading home.

“He put himself and the public in a lot of danger at that time of day,” Daniels told WDBJ7 Friday.

Daniels followed Ellis to Perrowville Road, where Ellis ditched his motorcycle and took off running.

Randy Willis saw what was happening and offered to help.

“When you see a situation and you realize there’s an emergency, you just respond,” said Willis.

When he saw Daniels chasing Ellis on foot, Willis offered to give the deputy a ride.

“I turned my truck around and he hopped in the back of it,” Willis explained. “Then we went looking for the suspect.”

Another man at a nearby gas station showed them where to go and called 911.

By that time Ellis had ducked into Trio Pizza. He hoped the employees there would help him hide, but they showed Daniels exactly where to find him.

The deputy took him outside to his patrol car and was greeted with support.

“Two ladies were at the bank across the street,” said Daniels. “They clapped, gave me a thumbs up and cheered.”

Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown held a ceremony in front of Trio Pizza Friday to thank Willis and the others who helped Daniels in his time of need.

Daniels said its reassuring to know the community has his back.

“When someone offers their help and support like that, it’s rare but it lets you know that you can still hold your head high and do your job,” Daniels said.

Ellis is facing charges of speeding, reckless driving, and a felony count of eluding police.

Article Sources: WSLS and WDBJ

Brief Thank you Ceremony for Good Samaritan Citizens

June 11, 2015

To read the newspapers and watch TV one would think that law enforcement is despised by most of the public…not true, and we in law enforcement know it. I receive notes and calls every week from citizens that congratulate our deputies on their service to them personally or to someone they know. This scenario was played out yesterday, Wednesday, in Forest and this office wants to recognize the citizens who took the time to assist one of our deputies. We will have a short ceremony in the parking lot of Trio’s Pizza, Forest, VA,(beside Sheetz near Perrowville Road) Friday, June 12 at 2:00PM. At least one of the ‘Good Samaritan Citizens’ will be there to accept our thanks and a small token of our appreciation. We are attempting to locate the others.

Please see below the comments from Deputy Daniel’s email sent to me this morning.

“Yesterday during my motorcycle pursuit, that turned into foot pursuit in Forest, I was reminded that even with all that is taking place in our country, law enforcement ‘battering’ , that we still have some grateful citizens in our community that appreciate what we do. This happened yesterday and took place in probably the busiest part of the day, lots of traffic, in Forest. As a result, a lot of citizens witnessed this ordeal. Also, a lot of people, including the motorcyclist, could have been injured, possibly killed due to his reckless regard for the public. Due to manpower being stretched razor thin with our office I didn’t have a back up unit even remotely close…not blaming anyone…we were super busy. Not one but 4 different citizens stopped to help. The first one pointed me in the direction where the cyclist had gone… I had lost sight of the driver and was not sure which way to go. Then I was stopped by another man who told me which way the driver went after he had abandoned his motorcycle. After a grueling foot pursuit , a citizens stopped gave me a ride on the back of his truck to get closer to the suspect who had crossed Rt. 221 and entered Trio Pizza. Once inside the pizza restaurant employees pointed to where the suspect was hiding. After he was taken into custody several people at the bank near Sheetz clapped and cheered as he was walked back to my patrol car. I know we get thanks from the public, but I wish somehow I could thank the public for their support. So the moral of story is keep your head up sheep dogs, some still support what we do!”

Arrested:

Ryan D. Ellis

Ryan D. Ellis

Age 22

Forest, VA

Charged with Speeding, Reckless Driving and Felony Elude Police.

Released on unsecured bond.

Download the PDF Press Release

Largest Heroin Seizure in Bedford County, VA History!

June 11, 2015

Bedford Co., VA – A coordinated law enforcement effort resulted in the largest heroin seizure ever in Bedford County according to Sheriff Mike Brown.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office seized 2,800 hits of heroin. The street value is $84,000.

Sheriff Brown says the heroin came from New Jersey.

“You can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of it would have been distributed in Bedford County,” said Sheriff Mike Brown. “It would have been a tremendous, tremendous headache for law enforcement and for other individuals in Bedford County.”

Jesse Ray Little, 56, of Huddleston was arrested early Monday morning. He’s charged with possession with intent to distribute. The arrest happened in western Bedford County, near Roanoke.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit, DEA, Virginia State Police, Roanoke Police Department, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) took part in the operation. Sheriff Brown said intelligence in this case was collected locally and in New Jersey.

Sheriff Brown said they’ve been working this case for several months and the investigation continued into Monday night, after Little’s arrest.

Little is being held without bond at the Bedford Adult Detention Center. His preliminary hearing is set for late July.

Original Link: WSET.com

Kyle Marks is the Recipient of the 3rd Will Branham Officer Survival Award

June 5, 2015

Dep. Kyle Marks

Officer Jonathan “Kyle” Marks, Bedford County Sheriffs Office. Recipient of the 3rd Will Branham Officer Survival Award.

Will Branham was a good friend of some BCSO deputies and after high school worked at Lynchburg PD. He passed away from cancer some years ago and left behind 2 small children and a wife.

There have only been 3 of these awards given.

The BCSO Family congratulates Deputy Kyle Marks on this prestigious award