WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF
2009 Annual Report
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The Washington County Sheriff's Department primary mission by statue is to serve civil process and transports prisoners, mental health patients and juveniles who are in custody of the State of Vermont. During the 09 fiscal year we preformed 793 transports. This doesn't reflect the total number of persons transported, as many transports include multiple persons, but the number of trips made. During this same time frame we received 2888 requests to serve civil process.

In addition to transporting prisoners, mental health patients, juveniles and serving civil process, we work hard to do our part in keeping our highways and roadways a safer place. The Sheriff's Department is able to assist in highway safety through the nine (9) patrol contracts with towns within the County and though Grant Funding from Governor Highway Safety for DUI and SHARP (Safe Highway Accident Reduction Patrol). We also worked State funded Work Zone Safety patrols. The Sheriff's Department is also a part of the County wide START (Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team) program. With this program we are a part of a proactive response to stop teen alcohol use and reactive to reports or use.

This year the Sheriff's Department was recognized for our efforts in Highway Safety, by placing 2nd in the Vermont Law Enforcement Challenge (Sheriff's Division). Or recognition continued as we were also awarded 2nd in the National Law Enforcement Challenge.

Patrols shifts during fiscal year 2009 generated 300 incidents and 1,879 Vermont Traffic Citations. The Department arrested 39 persons for DUI, 29 persons for driving with a criminally suspended license, 16 persons on arrest warrants and assisted the US Marshalls with a County wide Arrest Warrant Sweep.

In the past fiscal year we continue reaching out to the community by offering a Hunter Safety class at the East Montpelier Elementary School, giving presentations at several Drivers Education Classes, providing demonstrations of the "rollover convincer" (a seat belt usage demonstrator) at many community events and once again handing out over 2,000 candy canes prior to the Christmas Holidays, reminding people to drive safely.

During the 09 fiscal year the Washington County Sheriff's Department was again contracted by the Town of Waitsfield to provide motor vehicle patrol. This year we patrolled approximately 763 hours.

The Department is focused on motor vehicle enforcement, but we also provide preventive patrols to deter offenses. We continue to work cooperatively with the Vermont State Police to be first responders to calls as requested if we are patrolling the town at the time of the complaint - this allows quicker law enforcement response to serious complaints. This year we responded to assist the State Police with incidents such as: a welfare check, a search warrant, a road rage incident and an intoxicated female.

In the course of our patrols many vehicles are stopped and at times warnings are given. While on patrol in Waitsfield 382 Traffic Complaints were written by the Washington County Sheriff's Department. Below is a list of the most common violations written:

Four arrests were made for a person driving while under the influence, one arrest for a person driving with a criminally suspended license and 2 persons were apprehended on active arrest warrants. Arrests were also made for possession of marijuana, violations of conditions of release, furnishing alcohol to minors, and minor consuming alcohol.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department will continue to work to keep your community a safe place to live.

Professionally,

W. Samuel Hill
Sheriff

Updated January 19, 2010