Sheriff

Jefferson County Sheriff Bobby Shirley said his No. 1 priority, if he is elected to a second term, is protecting the public's safety. Shirley, 61, of Earle Road, a 26-year department veteran, said all he needs to do to accomplish that goal is be re-elected to continue the policies he put in place since he came to the job four years ago. Shirley's annual salary, set by state law, is $44,800 plus 2 percent, not to exceed $15,000, of delinquent taxes...

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said it wants residents to be aware of a new telephone scam. Deputy 1st Class Carly Hose said the sheriff's office recently received a report from a resident who said he received a call from an impostor claiming to be a representative of Microsoft. “They call residents and say they've seen some sort of error message or something along those lines,” Hose said. She said the caller then asks for information to gain access to the victim's computer.

For the most part, Earl Ballenger, the Republican candidate in the Jefferson County sheriff's race, is paying for his own campaign. "It's all on me except for a little help from family and friends," said Ballenger, 64, of Longerbeam Drive in Millville, W.Va. A retired deputy sheriff after 24 years on the job, Ballenger is challenging his former boss, Sheriff Bobby Shirley, who is running for a second four-year term. The sheriff's job pays an annual salary, set by state law, of $44,800 plus 2 percent (not to exceed $15,000)

An official write-in candidate in the 2012 election for Berkeley County sheriff has easily outspent his opponents, as well as candidates vying for other county offices on this year's ballot, according to campaign financial statements filed last month. From the beginning of the year through Sept. 28, John Orem reported spending $26,982, according to his first campaign financial statement for the Nov. 6 general election. Orem, who was narrowly defeated in the primary election by James W. Barbour III for the Republican Party's nomination for sheriff, reported spending about $22,000 on his campaign after the May vote, according to his financial statements.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said people should lock their vehicle doors to avoid falling victim to whomever is responsible for a number of thefts from cars and trucks. Deputy 1st Class Carly Hose said the most recent incident was reported Tuesday in the Funkstown area. Hose said there has been an increase in thefts from unlocked vehicles across Washington County. The easiest way to prevent becoming a victim, she said, is to lock your vehicle doors. Anyone with information may call the sheriff's office at 240-313-2170.

An anonymous donor in August offered $3,000 for the purchase of a new K-9 dog for the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, but the acceptance of the gift apparently is in doubt because of conditions attached to it. Sheriff Kenneth Lemaster said on Tuesday that he believes acceptance of the gift would be in violation of ethics rules because the donation was designated for a particular officer - Deputy Tim Sherman, one of the department's K-9 handlers -...

The following incidents were reported by the Washington County Sheriff's Office from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday: A burglary in the 300 block of North Colonial Drive. A theft in the unit block of South Clifton Drive in Williamsport. A theft from a motor vehicle in the unit block of Haywood Circle. A theft from a motor vehicle in the 1200 block of Kuhn Avenue. A theft from a motor vehicle in the 17200 block of Reiff Church Road. A theft from a motor vehicle in the 6300 block of Coffman Farms Road.

The law enforcement division of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office operated over Labor Day weekend without phone service at the agency's headquarters after lightning struck the building, Sheriff Kenneth Lemaster said Wednesday. “This office took a direct hit last Friday,” Lemaster said Wednesday afternoon when phone service was restored. The building's security system was initially disabled by the storm and deputies had to share a key to get into the headquarters as a result, Lemaster said.

A man who was shot Saturday by a Berkeley County sheriff's deputy was armed with what appeared to be a rifle and was holding a knife to a woman's neck outside a Falling Waters, W.Va., residence in a tense confrontation that ended in gunfire, police said Monday. Raymond Wallace II, 23, was shot once in the hip by sheriff's deputy Ralph Pierce, who fired his weapon four times, police said. Warrants charging Wallace with kidnapping, attempted robbery, attempted arson and second-degree sexual assault were issued Saturday, police said.  Wallace, who was flown to a Washington, D.C.-area hospital for treatment, now faces extradition back to Berkeley County to be arraigned on the charges, police said.

A man who was shot by a Berkeley County Sheriff's Department deputy during a domestic incident early Saturday on Yukon Drive was still alive Sunday, according to Berkeley County Sheriff Kenny Lemaster. Lemaster said Sunday afternoon that he did not know the man's condition. He declined to release the name of the man or the deputy involved in the shooting until officials with his department have a chance to discuss the incident today. Deputies went to the 100 block of Yukon Drive after receiving a call about a domestic violence incident, according to a news release from the sheriff's department.