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Updated 10/31/2017

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                 SHERIFF

                                                                                                                                                                                       STEVEN R. DAWSON

 

   MISSION STATEMENT 

It is the mission of Hardy County Sheriff's Department to serve and protect all the citizens of Hardy County in courteous and professional manner. To enforce the law of the State of West Virginia and uphold the Constitution of the United States.  To work in partnership with the citizens of Hardy County as well as local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to accomplish our mission goals. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concealed Weapons Permits

Permits to carry a concealed weapon (CCW) are issued by the Office of the Sheriff following application and a background clearance check. To be eligible for a CCW permit, you must be a resident of the West Virginia county in which you apply.  Certain classes of people, including convicted felons, are precluded from holding a CCW permit.

To apply, you must personally go to the Sheriff’s office to obtain an application.  At the time you submit an application you will be required to show your Driver’s License or state-issued identification card and your certificate of firearms training (an NRA firearms safety class or similar training qualifies).

With your application, the Sheriff’s Office will collect a $25 fee.  If you successfully pass a criminal background check by the West Virginia State Police, the Sheriff’s Office will issue a CCW permit, which is effective for five years.  To receive the permit, you must personally appear at the Sheriff’s office and pay a $25 permit fee. You will be provided with a photo ID.  Veterans may apply for free; a copy of the DD214 is required

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to carry my CCW permit with me?

A. You must have a Photo ID and CCW on your person when carrying a concealed weapon in West Virginia. West Virginia’s permit is a handgun permit only and does not allow for the carrying of other deadly weapons such as knives and billy clubs.

Q. I live outside of West Virginia and I have a concealed carry permit for a firearm in my home state. Does West Virginia honor my permit?

A. West Virginia currently honors concealed weapon permits issued by the States of Arizona, Arkansaw, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Alaska. Other States may have been added, see the State Attorney Generals Office for more up to date information. Please consult with authorities in your state in order to determine if a reciprocal agreement has been made with West Virginia.

Q. Are there places where I am prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon?

A. Yes.  Weapons are forbidden in courthouses, family law masters office, magistrate’s office, primary and secondary school property including school buses. Any facility that is being used for a primary or secondary school function while that function is going on. Anywhere a sign is posted saying No Firearms Allowed. The signs do not have to be of any set size or design. All Federal restrictions apply. Firearms are not permitted in federal buildings, post offices, military compounds, federal courthouses, and the like. 

Q. Is it lawful to carry uncased hunting weapons (e.g. rifles, shotguns, and pistols) in my vehicle when I travel in West Virginia?

A. Weapons intended for hunting must be unloaded and in a case when transported in a vehicle.  

Q. I am a police officer from another state who will be traveling through West Virginia.  May I lawfully carry my service weapon?

A. West Virginia law permits anyone who can lawfully possess a handgun to carry an unconcealed handgun. If you choose to carry an unconcealed handgun in your vehicle and you are stopped for a traffic violation, you must understand that the handgun will immediately attract the attention of the police officer.  The presence of the handgun may lead to action by the officer such as drawing his or her weapon, ordering you from your vehicle, and performing a pat-down search. Vehicle stops are inherently dangerous for police officers and these actions have been held to be lawful by the United States Supreme Court.

 

Court Security

Hardy County sheriff’s deputies serve as bailiffs in the Circuit Court, Magistrate Court, and Family Court.  Their roles include maintaining the peace and security of the courthouse and courtrooms, assisting judges and other judicial officers, calling witnesses, assisting juries, and transporting prisoners.

The Sheriff’s office also has responsibility for maintaining the peace at parenting sessions conducted under auspices of the Family Law Judge, and for accompanying parties to proceedings conducted by the County Mental Hygiene Commissioner.

 

Service of Process, Civil and Criminal

Service of process is the delivery of court papers to a party, witness or other person named in a court or other adversarial proceeding or who has a stake in a case. 

When a court issues an order or decision that must be implemented or enforced – for example, a warrant, writ, summons, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum, or other notice – it must be delivered and acted on.  Their delivery and execution is called “service.”

When a person has been provided with formal notice of the filing of a lawsuit (that is, that he has been sued), of a court hearing or trial, or ordering him to attend a hearing, trial or deposition, that person is said to have been served.

Depending upon the nature and circumstances of the cause, service of process is carried out in person, by mail, by delivery to a person’s home, or by publication.

When personal service is required, the Office of the Sheriff, for example, may be ordered to summon defendants to appear in court, or  subpoena witnesses to a legal proceeding, or arrest someone under a writ of capias.

The service of civil process - summonses, subpoenas and other notices - is managed by a process server,  Deputies in the Law Enforcement Division handle service of criminal process - warrants and writs.

Not all civil process originates with the court system. Other types of documents qualify for service by the Sheriff's office.  A $25 fee applies to all service of process. 

 

Prisoner Transport


One of the principal duties of the Sheriff's office is transporting prisoners and fugitives.

Hardy County Deputies are responsible for escorting prisoners to and from court for hearings and trials, to ensure public safety.  Regardless of what law enforcement agency arrests a person, it falls to the Sheriff's department to transport the individual.

The Sheriff's office is also responsible for traveling to other states to take into custody and return to Hardy County fugitives being held in other states.

Law Enforcement Division

Responsibilities of the Sheriff 

The law assigns to Sheriffs and their Deputies a wide range of responsibilities, including a variety of functions in the courts, enforcing laws and apprehending criminals, serving criminal and civil process, and transporting prisoners.  And as they county’s population grows, so does the demand on the Sheriff’s Office and its budget.

Court Security and Services

The Bailiff’s duties include keeping the peace and assisting the judge, witnesses and jury, escorting criminal defendants, calling witnesses, and executing the orders of the court.

Deputy Sheriffs also are required to serve as officers in Magistrate Court, in Family Law Master Court, at parenting classes conducted under the auspices of the Family Law Master, and at commitment proceedings conducted by the Mental Hygiene Commissioner.

Sworn deputies in the Law Enforcement Division are also responsible for serving writs, subpoenas, summons, and other court orders, and processing extraditions.

Law Enforcement

The Office of the Sheriff is the chief law enforcement agency in Hardy County, charged with enforcing state and county laws and ordinances.  Town police, though, provide local law enforcement in the incorporated towns of Moorefield and Wardensville.

Among the Sheriff’s duties are the enforcement of traffic laws and accident investigations, and criminal investigations related to a wide variety of offenses including drug possession and trafficking, burglary and larceny, and domestic violence.

Hardy County deputies regularly cooperate with law officers from other agencies and jurisdictions – including the West Virginia State Police, Department of Natural Resources, and town police – to carry out their enforcement duties.

Incarceration of Prisoners

Individuals awaiting hearings or trial, or who are sentenced to serve time in jail are confined at the Regional Jail in Augusta, WV.

The Sheriff’s office also is responsible for overseeing the “Home Incarceration” program, under which courts may order defendants to restrict their movement to home and work locations as an alternative to serving sentences in the Regional Jail.

Transport of Prisoners

Whenever someone is arrested and held for a hearing or trial, that person is transported to the Regional Jail at Augusta, WV. Regardless of what agency makes an arrest, the Sheriff’s department is responsible for holding the individual for transport to Augusta.

County deputies also are responsible for taking custody of prisoners at any location, near or far, and returning them to Hardy County.  Deputies routinely travel to other states to pick up and return prisoners.

County Humane Officers and Conservation Officers

Under West Virginia law the Sheriff's department is responsible for enforcing animal humane laws in Hardy County.  Deputies are required to investigate complaints and to take action to prevent the perpetration or continuation of inhumane treatment of animals.  Failure to do so is cause for removal from office.  County deputies also are empowered to enforce the state’s wildlife and natural resources conservation laws.


 

Community Crime Prevention

The Hardy County Sheriff's Office places emphasis on crime prevention, criminal apprehension, and prosecution. With the population of the county growing, we are aware there is a need to provide traffic speed enforcement as part of an ongoing crime prevention program. In an effort to locate specific problem areas, please fill out this form to assist us. Our goal in this endeavor is to slow a majority of traffic in a specific area down, not to write "tickets", but tickets may be issued. If you have a specific vehicle that is speeding, notify us and we will take measures necessary to slow that person's speed. Requests will be kept confidential.


Fill out and print the crime prevention form here and mail or fax to the Hardy County Sheriff's Office.

Record your personal firearms form here and keep for your record.

Community Security Checks

This security check service in no way guarantees that your property will be safer from vandalism or burglary, but merely provides the Sheriff's Office with information of your whereabouts and other pertinent facts if a crime should occur.

Fill out and print the security check
form here and mail or fax to the Hardy County Sheriff's Office.

 

2250232

Staff:

(304) 530-0222

Non-emergency Landline

Sheriff Steven R. Dawson

Holly Barger, Law Enforcement Secretary

J.T. Miller, Captain

Tommie McCausley, Master Deputy

Jimmy Shipe, SGT.

Brad Short, SGT 

Bernard Spencer, Senior Deputy

Jamie Smith, SGT

Wes Parker, Deputy Sheriff

Ben Parker, Deputy Sheriff

Tyler Robinette - Part Time

Jason Rohrbaugh - Part Time