Sheriff
The History of the Arlington County Sheriff's Office
Arlington County Courthouse 1950
In colonial days in Virginia, the Sheriff was a formidable figure. Vested with as much dignity as their counterpart in England, this Officer of the County Court was the collector of public and parish levies, keeper of the County prison and public hangman. Acting as an arresting officer, they were required to physically lay hands upon the accused. They could use force, break down doors, commandeer anyone or anything - people, horses, boats - when in pursuit of a felon.
In that time, the Governor and council appointed the Sheriff upon recommendation of the county commissioners. Today, the Sheriff is a Constitutional Officer, one of two elective Officers in the criminal justice system. The Sheriff is responsible for the local jail, is the administrative officer of the court, and performs other criminal law enforcement and civil law functions.
In the late 1940's, one Circuit Court and one County Court served the people, in contrast to today's four Circuit Courts, three District Courts, and two Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. In 1940, upon the recommendation of Sheriff Howard B. Fields and approval of the Circuit Court, a separate County Police Department was formed and moved under the County Manager, a trend in urban law enforcement agencies at that time.
Eighteen Sheriffs have served in Arlington starting in 1869 when the County was part of Alexandria. Of these, the voters elected fourteen; the courts appointed five. Two resigned; two died in office. One served 20 years, the longest time in office; one, a few months.
Arlington County Sheriffs
I.C. O'Neil...............1869-1874
R.D. Ruffin...............1874
James C. Roach............1874-1876
William C. Wibirt.........1876-1879
Frederick S. Corbett......1879-1883
Richard A. Veitch.........1883-1895
William H. Palmer.........1895-1912
Jacob E. Birch............1912
A.H. Barbor...............1912-1916
Howard B. Fields..........1916-1920
A.C. Clements.............1920-1924
Howard B. Fields..........1924-1944
Homer Bauserman...........1944-1948
J. Elwood Clements........1948-1952
Carl Taylor...............1952-1960
T.W. Frederick............1960-1964
J. Elwood Clements........1964-1980
James A. Gondles..........1980-1990
Thomas N. Faust...........1990-2000
Beth Arthur...............2000-Present