The first Crime Solvers program in this area was started in the early 1980’s by Kenneth Lemaster and Cpl. Kenny Lemaster.

            The first sheriff of Berkeley County was Adam Stephen.  Lord Dunmore gave him his commission of sheriff, after being nominated by the court.  The year Adam Stephen was appointed sheriff was 1772.  This was the year Frederick County, Virginia became Berkeley County, VA.  Berkeley County then included the three counties of Morgan, Jefferson and what is known as Berkeley County now.  In 1847 the County Court of Berkeley County ordered the sheriff of the county to collect taxes for use in the county.
           
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department did not start into law enforcement until 1961.  Up to that time the main concern of the sheriff and his deputies (one or two deputies) was to collect taxes and serve the courts of the county.  The sheriff and his deputies at that time would serve the court papers after they had taken care of the taxes and serving the courts.
           
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department of today had its beginning in 1961 when Sheriff Edwin Miller appointed two of his deputies to work as a road patrol in the county.  They would serve papers and work the courts when they need be.  The main concern for the two road deputies were to enforce motor vehicle laws of West Virginia, and to respond to calls and most important to enforce the law and serve the people of the county.

            The department grew under Sheriff Edwin Miller, William Reid, and Calvin Bayer.  At the end of Sheriff Bayer’s term (1973) the department consisted of a Chief Deputy and from 10 to 13 deputies.  The Sheriff and his deputies were now solving cases, making raids, enforcing the traffic laws, serving court papers, and serving the court.  The department now had three full shifts working on a full time basis.
           
In 1973 Sheriff Lyle Catlett took over department.  The department grew from 13 to 16 deputies, and they worked around the clock in three shifts seven days a week.

            In 1978 the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department consisted of Sheriff Catlett, Chief Deputy Lewis, a Sergeant in charge of vehicles and serving Circuit Court papers, a sergeant and a deputy serving as investigators, a corporal and a deputy serving as magistrate deputies, a deputy serving as a full time jailer, a corporal and a deputy working as a K-9 unit, one female deputy to work with female prisoners and do the regular duties of a deputy, two corporals and five deputies to work the road patrol on the two evening shifts.  The department in 1978 had nine vehicles, one for the sheriff, one for the chief deputy, two for the magistrate deputies, one vehicle for the two investigators, one four wheel drive for the two K-9 units, one four wheel drive vehicle for the general use of the department, two marked cars for road patrol.

            The Berkeley County Jail in 1978 could hold a maximum of between 60 and 65 prisoners, 10 of which could be females, 6 juveniles, 4 trustees, 30 prisoners in the cell blocks, between 10 and 15 in the tank (or staging area).  The prisoners were fed three cooked meals a day.  Fingerprints and photographs could be taken at the jail.  The Law Enforcement part of the Sheriff’s Department was located at the County Jail also.

            In 1978 Berkeley County had 45,000 people living in it with 16,000 of them living in the city of Martinsburg.  The Sheriff’s Department had 16 members and the City Police of Martinsburg had 28 members at this time to enforce the law, and serve people.

In 1980 Sheriff Lyle S. Catlett ended his two terms and was replaced by Sheriff William N. Kisner.

            Sheriff Catlett was a prominent figure that was lauded as being a great man and sheriff.  He was a visionary working to increase manpower and equipment.

            In 1977 he hired the first female in law enforcement in the Eastern Panhandle when he hired Deputy Cheryl Henry.

            Sheriff Kisner followed in Sheriff Catlett’s footsteps of trying to improve the professionalism of the department, add needed manpower to serve an increasing population and gain wages for deputy sheriffs.

            Sheriff Kisner did not elect to have a Chief Deputy but appointed the most experienced senior deputy, Richard L. Steerman and Captain in charge of the law enforcement division.       Deputy strength was up to the level of 21 officers.

            During Sheriff Kisner’s term, he worked to put law enforcement deputies out of the jail by hiring correctional officers to serve.  During Kisner’s term, jails became a hot issue in the state of West Virginia after several lawsuits were filed which eventually caused the regional jail system to be adopted.

            Sheriff Kisner also was instrumental in a take home car policy for all officers to promote crime prevention in the county and response to emergencies and calls.

            Sheriff Kisner served for two terms and later became a county commissioner.

            Sheriff Preston B. Gooden followed Sheriff Kisner.  Gooden had served as a Martinsburg city police officer, deputy sheriff, and state trooper.  Shortly after Gooden became sheriff, manpower decreased to 16 deputies at one time.  This manpower was eventually re-staffed.

            In 1984 Sgt. Randy Smith became the first member of the department to be selected to attend and graduate the FBI National Academy.      In the early 1980’s Cpl. Kenny Lemaster along with his father started the first Crime Solvers program in the area.

            In 1989, the State of West Virginia built the first regional jail in Martinsburg.  When this jail opened all prisoners were transferred and the county jail was closed.

            Sheriff Gooden increased personnel in the investigative division and worked in his first term toward criminal activity.  Gooden began with Tom Freeland, former state trooper, as his Chief.  Later he chose Captain John D. Vanorsdale, Sr. who served as chief until his retirement.

            In 1990 the department moved from it’s small, cramped and antiquated facility on South Raleigh Street to a new building in the emergency services complex at 802 South Queen.  The building also housed 911 and emergency services.

              During Sheriff Gooden’s term, funding became available through the Federal Governments COPS program.  Berkeley County sought police positions extensively through this program with the help of the county commission.

In 1995, Sgt. K.C. Bohrer became the second member to be selected to attend and graduate from the FBI National Academy.

Also during the 1990’s the population explosion continued in the eastern panhandle.  Crime rose as well.

During Sheriff Gooden’s administration several innovative programs began to include:

            Cpl. Greg Scappini was trained and assigned to teach in the county school systems. Deputy Mike Jenkins started the Neighborhood Watch program.

The Police Athletic League was started and founded by Cpl. Dennis Streets and Deputies John Vanorsdale, Jr. and Scott Richmond.

The Special response Team was started.

Deputy Greg Scappini and Russell Shackelford founded the Dive Team.

I IMOD photo lineup program was begun by Deputy Wilbur Johnson,

The Interstate Patrol program.

The Highway Accident Reduction Program (HARP).

Sheriff Gooden left office and was replaced by Sheriff Ronald Jones.

He continued John Vanorsdale, Sr. as his Chief Deputy.

Sheriff Jones took office determined to improve the vehicle and equipment fleet.   Sheriff Jones was very instrumental in obtaining more new vehicles and in car video systems for the officers.

During his term the department became more computerized and computer literate.  Sheriff Jones was unsuccessful in his re-election in 2000.

Former twelve-year veteran W. Randy Smith was elected to the office and began his term in January of 2001.  

Sheriff Smith reorganized the department into three separate divisions at his first department meeting.  Courts to be lead by veteran Lt. Cheryl Henry Keller, Criminal Investigations by veteran Lt. K.C. Bohrer and Patrol by veteran Lt. Dennis Streets.

Sheriff Smith gave his opening charge to his staff that he wished to professionalize and improve the department extensively.  He began to have the department’s offices renovated and organize to maximize space in overcrowding.

When he began his term he had 38 deputies and a civilian staff to include 7 civilian support staff and 6 court bailiffs.  Sheriff Smith filled slots left vacant by the previous division to place deputies back on the road and court bailiffs in the courts.  Shortly after taking office, Sheriff Smith chose Kenneth Lemaster to be the Chief Deputy and run the overall operation of the law enforcement division.

The first laptop computers began being installed in deputy’s patrol cars.

More projects are currently being explored to include:

Alternative Sentencing for non-violent offenders

Expanded facilities and workspace for the department

Increased computerization

Increased highway patrol on I-81 for citizen safety due to construction

Improving the vehicle fleet

Better dispatching procedures

Enhanced and additional criminal investigation equipment

Expanded Special Response Team and Training

In-House Training Programs