Staff
Sheriff Johnny Beauchamp
Sheriff Beauchamp (back row, middle) and the team test their drone (2019)
Structure
The structure and staffing of the sheriff’s office is described below and visualized below and in the PDF version of the organizational chart.
Administrative Division
Staff in the division perform a wide range of tasks to support the office and the community. Their work includes supporting the sheriff and civil process service deputies; operating the Non-criminal Fingerprinting Program (see Other Services); conducting background checks (see Other Services), helping individuals obtain accident reports, and helping with event security requests.
Contact: Call (804) 580-5221
Animal Control
Northumberland County Animal Control is responsible for the day-to-day activities related to the control of domestic animals to assure the public’s safety. Our Animal Control Officer patrols streets to locate stray animals and promptly captures animals and transports them to a designated animal shelter; and responds to complaints concerning animal problems or violations of animal control ordinances, including but not limited to animals running at large, bites, property damage, or injuries.
All dogs in Northumberland County needing shelter will be transported to the Northumberland County Animal Shelter located at 11703 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville, VA (located next to the Horsehead Trash and Yard Debris Center). The shelter is owned and operated by NCSO.
The shelter is supported by the the Friends of the Northumberland County Animal Shelter Facebook page ↗ and website ↗ for listings and announcements.
Animal Control contact: Call (804) 580-5221
Communications Division
The Communications Division is responsible for answering all incoming emergency and non-emergency telephone calls and dispatching as required. In a typical year, nearly 14,000 calls are dispatched to the range of emergency services in the county: law enforcement, the three emergency/rescue departments, and two fire departments.
The center has a robust set-up featuring a range of capabilities: two consoles to handle calls for service, Computer Aided Dispatch, access to the Division of Criminal Information, a digital recording system for instant call retrieval, a Motorola radio system, a VESTA computerized telephone system, and access to local news and weather.
Contact: Call (804) 580-5221
Court Security and Civil Process Division
The Court Security and Civil Process Division provides law enforcement services and protection to judges, court officials, defendants, jurors, witnesses, and the general public while they are in the county's courtrooms. The mission of the division is to serve as the security arm of the general district, juvenile and domestic relations, and circuit courts of Northumberland County. We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment in a professional, efficient and cost-effective manner with a commitment to community based policing for our judicial staff and the public. The five part-time deputies serve civil papers such as subpoenas, writs, show causes, garnishments, summons, and warrants in debt throughout the county. They also execute evictions, levies on property, and assist the road deputies responding to calls when needed.
Learn more about the Northumberland Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia ↗.
Investigations Division
The Investigations Division conducts thorough investigations of new and on-going criminal activity. Often, criminal intelligence is provided by deputies in the field. Investigators also provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies.
Got a tip? Contact the Northumberland County Crime Line at (804) 580-5252.
School Resource Division
Northumberland County School Resource Officers (S.R.O.s) are deputies who interact with school-aged students daily at school. The purpose of the S.R.O.s and other community policing programs within schools is to provide positive role models, foster positive relationships between public safety staff and young people, and help provide a safe learning environment for the county’s young people. One of the ways deputies accomplish this is through the school-based D.A.R.E. program, a program focused on helping children develop their personal power to respect others and make an active choice to lead a life without violence, drugs, and dangerous behaviors.
The deputies establish relationships with the students and provide a high visibility presence and recognizable response to the day-to-day issues surrounding the school environment.
Uniform Patrol Division
The mission of the patrol division is to provide quality law enforcement services to community members through community policing, crime prevention, drug enforcement, aggressive patrols, and education. You'll often see deputies engaging in process serving activities, enforcing traffic and criminal laws, answering complaints, addressing disturbing the peace issues, conducting follow-up investigations, transporting prisoners, and engaging community members at meetings and other events.
Staffing for this division: one major, one captain, two sergeants, three general crimes detectives, one drug task force detective, 12 uniformed patrol deputies, three S.R.O.s, one animal control deputy, and five part-time court security and civil process deputies.
Members of this division are responsible for monitoring 286 square miles of land territory and protecting more than 13,000 year-round residents and workers and an estimated 30,000 from spring to fall as seasonal residents, campers, boaters, and other visitors flock to the Northern Neck.
