History of the Sheriff's Office

The Office of the Sheriff is one of antiquity. It is the oldest law enforcement offices known within the common law system and it has always been accorded great dignity and high trust. Man's quest for equity and order gave birth to the Office of Sheriff. Today, the County Sheriff is a peace officer entrusted with the maintenance of law and order and the presentation of domestic tranquility. The Office of Sheriff and the law enforcement, judicial, and correctional functions he performs are more than 1,000 years old. When the first counties were established in Virginia in 1634, the Office of Sheriff in American began. Today, Sheriffs are elected officials who serve as Chief Law Enforcement Officer for a county. The Sheriff's Office is generally active in all three branches of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.

Nineteen Sheriff's have served in Southampton County starting in 1854. Vernie W. Francis, Jr., serves as the current Sheriff of Southampton County and was initially elected in 1984. Past Sheriff's of Southampton County are as follows:

Samuel Kello 1854-1857
William W. Briggs 1857-1863
Samuel Kello 1863-1865
William W. Briggs 1865-1867
Samuel Kello 1867-1869
D.L. Doles 1869-1870
George W. Vick 1870-1871
William W. Briggs 1871-1885
George W. Vick 1885-1886
J. L. Barham 1886-1887
J. W. Williams 1887-1901
Frank P. Pulley 1901-1904
J. Lewis Gillette 1904-1908
John I. Turner 1908-1916
C. L. Grizzard 1916-1921
Charles A. Bell 1921-1926
Thomas Briggs Bell 1926-1960
Ryland Brooks 1960-1984
Vernie W. Francis, Jr. 1984-Present

Southampton County Sheriff's Office
22336 Main Street
Courtland, VA 23837
Non-Emergency (757) 653-2100
Emergency 911
Administration Office Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon - Fri

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