The Sheriff's Office has a drug collection unit in the lobby of its office at 100 N. Church St. in Berryville. Access to the collection unit is available 24 hours a day. The drug collection unit helps residents safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications, including controlled substances, that may otherwise be diverted, abused, or contaminate rivers, streams, and the public water supply.

An individual must be at least 21-years old and must be a U.S. citizen (or have lawful alien status) to obtain a concealed carry permit. Applications are available at, and submitted to, the Clerk of the Circuit Court located at 102 N. Church St. in Berryville Call (540) 955-5116.

The Sheriff’s Office does not keep traffic accident reports. Submit requests for these reports to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Call (804) 497-7100. Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers can connect with the teletypewriter device (TTY) at 800-272-9268.

Copies of criminal investigation reports are handled by a FOIA request. Call (540) 955-5152, and leave your name, telephone number, and the information requested, and someone will contact you regarding the request.

Download this No Trespass Notice Form. Complete the form and give two copies to the Sheriff’s Office located at 100 N. Church St. in Berryville. There is no fee for service of a No Trespass Notice. The Sheriff’s Office can only serve these notices to individuals who reside in Clarke County. Once a notice is served, a copy of the notice will be sent to the originator. The Sheriff’s Office does not retain copies of No Trespass notices.

Remain on the line to advise the Emergency Communications Center staff that you made a mistake. If you do not remain on the line, ECC will dispatch an officer to your residence and attempt to call you back in order to make sure you are OK.

Before starting an outdoor fire of any kind, call the Emergency Communications Center at (540) 955-1234. By doing this, ECC operators will know how to respond should a passerby call 911 to report a fire, and they will know where outdoor burning is taking place should a fire get out of control.

If you are reporting a medical emergency, Emergency Communications Center staff can give you helpful and potentially life-saving pre-arrival instructions. This does not delay the dispatch of emergency responders, because while one specialist is talking with you, another is dispatching emergency personnel.

The Sheriff’s Office does offer a fingerprinting service, and there is no fee for any Clarke County resident or employee of a Clarke County business who needs fingerprints. Sheriff's Office staff is available for fingerprinting on non-holiday Mondays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Clarke County Public School employees are fingerprinted on non-holiday Mondays between 8 a.m. and noon. (If Monday is a holiday, fingerprinting is done on Tuesday.)

The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to report legitimate grievances regarding the conduct of its employees. All complaints are fully reviewed and investigated. Complaints may be reported by filling out a Complaint Against Personnel Form and delivering it to Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, 100 N. Church St., Berryville, VA 22611. Or, call the office (540) 955-5152, and ask to speak with the Sheriff or Chief Deputy.

The Sheriff encourages residents to contact him regarding a staff member’s proficiency and/or helpfulness. Like grievances, commendations are fully reviewed and added to employee files. Residents can send or deliver letters to Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, 100 N. Church St., Berryville, VA 22611. Or, call (540) 955-5152, and ask to speak with the Sheriff or Chief Deputy. 

There are several levels of 911 phone service, ranging from basic to complex. The most basic service means that by calling 911, you are connected to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). PSAP is generally, but not always, a 911dispatch center. More advanced 911 services provide physical addresses, phone numbers, and initial public safety response information.

Cell phone providers also offer levels of 911 services. The most basic wireless cell service means the cell phone is capable of connecting with 911 and reaching a PSAP as long as there is viable coverage. With the new technology, many cell-service providers have advanced networks and/or phones to provide more detailed information to the PSAP. Some systems provide the cell-service provider name, caller’s phone number, and physical address of the cell tower that is transmitting the call. More advanced systems provide that information plus the longitude and latitude of the phone’s location.

Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) solutions are popular because of their cost savings. VOIP providers make sure the caller gets routed to the correct PSAP. This type of 911 phone service is still relatively new, so make sure to get detailed information about the level of 911 services your provider offers.

• Always provide the 911 center with your location and a callback number in case you are disconnected.
• Don’t assume your phone can be geographically located. Check with your service provider, or call the non-emergency number — (540) 955-1234 — to arrange a test call.
• If you don’t pay for service on your phone or you use a disposable service, it is likely your location and phone number will not display when you dial 911.
• If you give your old cell phone to a child as a toy, remove the SIM card. If the card is not removed, the child may call 911 and tie up the 911 center.
• Be wary of companies selling “wearable cell phone” with no monthly service and the ability to call 911 with the push of a button. These devices are not initialized and will not provide a callback number or your location. The only way first responders will find you is if you tell the 911 center your location.
• Before signing up for an alternate home phone service, get a detailed explanation of its 911 service.