The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is the largest full-service law enforcement agency in Maryland.
We have more than 650 employees, including 300 Police Officers, 200 Correctional Officers, and 150 civilian personnel. We are comprised of 11 divisions which operate together to serve the citizens of Charles County:
The Office of the Sheriff
The Office of the Sheriff is comprised of the Sheriff, Chief of Staff, three Assistant Sheriffs, the Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Office of the General Counsel.
Sheriff Troy D. Berry
Sheriff Troy D. Berry is a 30-year veteran of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and was first elected as Sheriff in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He leads an Agency of over 650 employees and is the final authority on all matters of policy, operations, and discipline.
Email: BerryT@ccso.us
Chief of Staff – Mr. Brian Eley
Mr. Brian Eley serves as Sheriff Berry’s Chief of Staff. He is the highest responsible senior administrative and supervisory authority of all employees of the Agency. He is directly responsible for the Office of the General Counsel and the Executive Services Division. Chief of Staff Eley is a retired CCSO Captain and most recently served as the Assistant Sheriff of Administration.
Email: EleyB@ccso.us
Three Assistant Sheriffs
Three Assistant Sheriffs are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Agency:
- Major William Edge: Assistant Sheriff of Operations – responsible for Patrol Operations and the Criminal Investigations Division.
- Major Joseph Pratta: Assistant Sheriff of Administration – responsible for the Corrections Division, Special Services Division, Information Technology Division, and Administrative Services Division.
- Major David Kelly: Assistant Sheriff of Field and Support – oversees the Special Operations Division, Training Division, and Community Services Division.
Emails: Prattaj@ccso.us, EdgeW@ccso.us, KellyD@ccso.us
Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)
The OPR is an independent component of the CCSO and maintains the integrity of the Agency by ensuring the professional conduct of Agency personnel. OPR’s two functions include Internal Affairs and Standards and Audits, and it operates under the command of Captain John Dodge.
Email: DodgeJ@ccso.us
Office of the General Counsel
Led by Mr. Jerome Spencer, this office provides legal counsel and representation for the Sheriff’s Office.
Email: SpencerJ@ccso.us
Patrol Division
The most visible component of the Agency is the Patrol Division, whose chief responsibilities are maintaining law and order and restoring peace when public safety is threatened. The Patrol Division prevents and investigates crime, responds to calls for service, and enforces traffic laws. Captain Andrew Schwab serves as the Commander of the Southern District and Captain Clarence Black serves as the Commander of the Northern District.
Five shifts of patrol officers (ranked corporal and below) and four sergeants each provide police services day and night throughout Charles County. Each officer is assigned to either the Northern District or the Southern District of the county. Additionally, 11 lieutenants serve as shift commanders in the Patrol Division, ensuring a commander is always on duty in both the Northern District and Southern District. Shift commanders coordinate the Patrol Division’s response to major incidents and make critical operational decisions.
Email: SchwabA@ccso.us or BlackC@ccso.us
Special Operations Division
The Special Operations Division, under the command of Captain Jason Carlson, performs tactical assignments and provides community and school-based services that engage citizens and businesses in public safety activities. The division includes the Field Operations Section.
Email: CarlsonJ@ccso.us
The Field Operations Section is supervised by Lieutenant Matthew Thompson and includes the Traffic Operations Unit, K9 Unit, Security Response Vessel, Unmanned Aerial System (UAE), and the Emergency Services Team (EST).
- Traffic Operations Unit: Investigates traffic fatalities, school bus crashes, school bus complaints, and abandoned vehicles; conducts radar operations and commercial vehicle inspections; provides funeral escorts; and manages all traffic-related grants awarded to the CCSO.
- K9 Unit: Consists of a sergeant, a trainer, and 9 dogs which include 5 Patrol/Narcotics detection canines, 2 Patrol/Weapon detection canines, 1 Explosive/Weapon detection canine, and 2 Bloodhound tracking/trailing canines. Each K9 team is certified by the agency, International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA), and Old Dominion SAR/SUMNER-EMA standards.
- Security Response Vessel: A specially-trained team of officers and civilians who provide law enforcement services on the waterways of Charles County. The vessels are specially designed for law enforcement use and are equipped to handle a variety of possible situations.
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAE) Unit
- Emergency Services Team
- Automated Enforcement Unit
- Intoximeter Operator Function
- Motorcycle Function
- Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Function
Email: ThompsonM@ccso.us
Community Services Division
The Community Services Division, under the command of Captain Caroline Baker, administers innovative and effective crime prevention programs, provides instruction and security in county schools, and leads numerous community outreach efforts. As a testament to the success of the Community Services Division’s programs and its commitment to working closely with citizens and businesses to prevent crime, the CCSO has received the Maryland Governor’s Crime Prevention Award each year since 1988.
Email: BakerCE@ccso.us
Community Relations Section
Under the command of Lieutenant Travis Yates, this section oversees the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Unit, Fingerprint Unit, Community Organizer, Community Engagement Unit, and Crisis Negotiations Team.
- COPS Unit: Officers maintain ties with participating neighborhoods, implement crime prevention programs, attend community meetings, and conduct foot, bicycle, and ATV patrols. The COPS Unit Sergeant also supervises the Alcohol Enforcement Officer and the Honor Guard.
- Fingerprint Unit: Includes a Civilian Coordinator and Civilian Specialist. Services are offered by appointment at the St. Charles Towne Center.
- Community Organizer: Oversees the Citizens Advisory Committee and coordinates outreach programs and events with local organizations.
- Community Engagement Unit: Includes a Civilian After School Program Coordinator, Crime Prevention Officers, and the Special Events Team.
- Crisis Negotiations Team: Specially trained to bring barricaded and hostage situations to peaceful conclusions. Members volunteer in addition to regular duty assignments.
Email: YatesT@ccso.us
School Resource Section
Supervised by Lieutenant Christopher Strafella, this section facilitates strong alliances between police and Charles County school students. Officers are assigned to elementary, middle, and high schools to provide programs such as Safe Schools, Truth and Consequences, and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). They also host leadership and youth programs such as Ladies Leadership Soccer Camp, Badges for Baseball Camp, Cops for Kids Football Camp, DARE conferences, Summer Youth Achievement Program, and We Care.
- Criminal Justice Program: High school students learn about the criminal justice system in partnership with CCSO and Charles County Public Schools. Held at North Point High School.
- Teen Court: Provides first-time youth offenders with the opportunity to accept responsibility for offenses without a formal criminal record, under the guidance of youth defense attorneys, youth prosecutors, and youth juries. Adult volunteers serve as judges.
- Public Safety Cadets Post
- School Crossing Guards
- Search Management Function
Email: StrafellaC@ccso.us
Criminal Investigations Division (CID)
The Criminal Investigations Division investigates complex crimes and crime trends. Under the command of Captain Harry Ivers, the division operates five sections — Persons Crimes, Property Crimes, Forensic Science, Homeland Security, and Narcotics Enforcement.
Email: IversH@ccso.us
- Persons Crimes Section: Commanded by Lieutenant Anthony Celia, includes the Major Crimes, Special Victims, and Robbery Units:
- Major Crimes Unit investigates homicides, deaths, shootings, stabbings, life-threatening assaults, cold cases, missing persons, and rare police-involved shootings.
- Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigates rapes, sexual assaults, child abuse, and exploitation of the elderly.
- Robbery Unit investigates citizen and commercial armed robberies.
Email: CeliaA@ccso.us
- Property Crimes Section: Commanded by Lieutenant Erica Budd, investigates property and financial crimes, analyzes trends, and provides services to victims. Includes Financial Crimes Unit, Auto Theft Detail, and Victim Services Unit:
- Financial Crimes Unit investigates fraud, identity theft, and embezzlement.
- Auto Theft Detail investigates vehicle thefts.
- Victim Services Unit works with local, state, and regional agencies to ensure victims understand their rights and access counseling/compensation.
Email: BuddE@ccso.us
- Forensic Science Section (FSS): Commanded by Deputy Director Noelle Gehrman, includes Quality Assurance Manager, Forensic Science Technicians, and Latent Print Specialists who process crime scenes and analyze evidence.
Email: GehrmanN@ccso.us
- Homeland Security & Intelligence Section: Commanded by Lieutenant William Welch, investigates gangs, extremist activities, threats, terrorism, and organized crime. Includes Crime Analysis Unit and Firearms Investigations Unit.
- Crime Analysis Unit collects, analyzes, and disseminates crime data for CompStat to address district-level crime trends.
- Firearms Investigations Unit (FIU) investigates illegal firearm manufacture, sales, possession, and trafficking.
Email: WelchW@ccso.us
- Narcotics Enforcement Section (NES): Commanded by Lieutenant Elliott, works covertly to disrupt drug trafficking. Includes Major Narcotics Unit and Narcotics Street Enforcement Unit.
Email: ElliottJr@ccso.us
Additionally, the CCSO employs a full-time Heroin Coordinator as part of the Opioid Addiction Program.
Corrections Division
The responsibility of keeping incarcerated individuals at the Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) secure rests with the Corrections Division under the command of Director Ryan V. Ross and Deputy Director Matthew Dixon. The Corrections Division is divided into four sections.
Contact: RossR@ccso.us
- Custody and Security Section: Commanded by Captain Tony Oliver, responsible for internal and external security of the facilities. Comprised of four security teams, which are the main operational element of the Corrections Division.
Email: OliverT@ccso.us
- Special Services Section: Commanded by Captain Brian Gardiner, responsible for standards and accreditation, training, security maintenance, incarcerated individuals commissary, and supplies:
- Standards and Accreditation Commander: Lt. Michael Smith – conducts audits and inspections to ensure compliance with Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (MCCS). CCDC achieved 100% on audits in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022.
- Training Commander: Lt. Ryan Taylor – ensures correctional officers fulfill training obligations mandated by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (MPCTC).
- Facility Management Commander: Lt. Matthew Becker – ensures the facility is well maintained and properly supplied, working closely with contractors for system and equipment upkeep.
Email: gardinerg@ccso.us
- Support Services Section: Commanded by Captain Stacy Kelly, responsible for central processing, jail programs, and services. Oversees the incarcerated individuals library and law library.
- Central Processing Commander: Lt. Matthew Irby – ensures completeness, accuracy, and security of records; maintains communication with courts, police, and other correctional facilities. Units: Records, Intake, Finance, Transportation, Court Holding.
- Jail Services Commander: Lt. Matthew Kline – offers programs to reduce recidivism and help incarcerated individuals re-enter society as productive citizens.
Email: kellys@ccso.us
Lt. Kevin Conley serves as an Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigator to ensure the integrity of Corrections Division personnel.
Support Services Division
The employees of the Support Services Division, commanded by Captain Chris Schmidt, are the critical link between citizens and the police and between officers and the information they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently.
Email: SchmidtLO@ccso.us
The Records Management Section, commanded by Deputy Director Amber DiToto, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the centralized records unit and the public-facing lobby at Sheriff’s Office Headquarters. As the Custodian of Police Records, Deputy Director DiToto ensures that each record is complete, readable, and accessible for its full retention period, and that proper disposition occurs after the retention period is fulfilled. This section maintains and monitors police records systems, oversees the security, storage, retention, retrieval, and disposition activities of all police records.
Email: DiTotoA@ccso.us
2022 Section Highlights:
- Handled all initial questions from visitors to the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
- Processed and cataloged 18,717 police reports and supplemental reports (incidents, accidents, missing persons, alcohol influence reports)
- Completed 1,015 expungements
- Processed 44,827 citations including ETIX, parking citations, warnings, traffic stop data sheets, and safety equipment repair orders
- Recorded 4,807 false alarm notifications
- Validated 1,439 METERS entries
- Processed 3,145 in-car camera video requests, State’s Attorney discovery requests, and 2,919 other report requests
- Processed 12,435 pieces of postal mail
- Processed 728 record checks
The Communications Section, commanded by Lt. Pat Tona, provides police radio communications to officers and clerical coverage of the district stations in La Plata, Bryans Road, and Waldorf. Each district station is staffed by Station Clerks responsible for answering the CCSO’s non-emergency telephone lines and assisting citizens visiting the district stations. Their primary mission is to obtain clear and concise information and relay that information to Police Communications Officers (PCOs), who dispatch it to officers conducting patrol or other assignments.
Email: TonaP@ccso.us
Information Technology Division (ITD)
Led by Director David Hanna, the ITD is vital in ensuring the CCSO functions efficiently in our digital world. ITD develops and implements a strategic plan to maintain and evolve systems, infrastructure, physical and virtual servers, enterprise applications, security, cloud, mobile initiatives, training, and future growth to support the objectives and success of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. The highly knowledgeable staff assigned to the Applications Support, PC Operations, and Systems Operations Support Sections maintains hundreds of PCs, printers, networks, complex servers, and software applications. Every function of the CCSO relies on the daily use of computers and digital police databases, and ITD personnel are always available to ensure law enforcement services are uninterrupted.
Email: HannaD@ccso.us
Special Services Division
Commanded by Captain Scott Grove, the Special Services Division handles judicial matters, ensures the security of the Charles County Courthouse, and maintains the Agency’s fleet, supply stock, and property inventory.
Email: Groves@ccso.us
Judicial Services Section
Commanded by Lieutenant Christopher Cusmano, this section serves arrest warrants, civil papers, and other legal documents; and addresses child support and domestic violence problems.
Email: CusmanoC@ccso.us
Property Management Section
Commanded by Lieutenant Scott Grove, this section manages the CCSO’s Quartermaster, Fleet Management, Property Held Unit, and Firearms Tracking Operations.
Email: GroveS@ccso.us
Courthouse Section
Provides security services for the Charles County District and Circuit Courts. This section is commanded by Lieutenant Charles Gass.
Email: GassC@ccso.us
Executive Services Division
The Executive Services Division, commanded by Captain Ashley Burroughs, manages Planning and Accreditation, Media Relations, the Chaplain program and acts as the liaison to the Sheriff.
Email: BurroughsJ@ccso.us
Planning and Accreditation
Managed by Deputy Director Laurie Coyle, writes and maintains the policy contained in the CCSO’s Administrative and Operational Manual and ensures the CCSO maintains its internationally recognized accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Agency continues to maintain the highest standards and earned a Gold Standard of Excellence during the 2020 CALEA audit.
Email: CoyleL@ccso.us
Media Relations Office
Coordinates the distribution of information about police investigations, crime prevention, and CCSO events to the news media and public. The office issues regular press releases; manages the content of the CCSO’s website; produces the Annual Report, an internal newsletter, advertisements, brochures, posters, and fliers; and manages the CCSO’s social media accounts.
Chaplain Services
Local clergymen offer guidance and inspiration to CCSO personnel and the public through Chaplain Services. Chaplains minister to CCSO personnel in times of personal need or strife and provide comfort to those who are injured or afflicted. They accompany officers who must notify families of the death of a loved one and would assist in notifying the family of an officer who was seriously injured or slain. Chaplains also provide invocations and benedictions at CCSO ceremonies.
Administrative Services Division
The CCSO is committed to maintaining a highly qualified workforce, to utilizing financial resources efficiently, and to maintaining thorough and accurate record keeping. The Administrative Services Division, commanded by Captain Kenneth Klezia, is responsible for helping the CCSO meet its strict personnel, budgetary, and records management standards.
Email: Kleziak@ccso.us
Budgeting Section
Managed by Deputy Director Erin Shoemaker, provides leadership on all accounts and projects that affect the budget for the Office of the Sheriff. This section is responsible for preparing the annual budgets and financial analyses of the Sheriff’s Office operations for upper-level management and County agencies. A well-trained team of budget professionals promotes sound budgetary management practices, oversees the budget preparation process, and assists in meeting the CCSO’s personnel and operational needs.
Email: ShoemakerE@ccso.us
Accounting Section
Managed by Deputy Director Amy Mayor, promotes sound financial management practices, accounts for Agency owned property, and assists in meeting the operating needs of the Sheriff’s Office. The section is composed of four major areas, which include Accounts Payable, General Accounting, Payroll, and Inmate Accounting.
Email: MayorA@ccso.us
Human Resources Section
Managed by Deputy Director Brian Daniels, handles administrative personnel tasks for potential and current employees. Once the Human Resources Section determines an applicant meets position requirements, the Pre-Employment Investigations Unit performs an extensive background investigation of the applicant. The unit’s mission is to ensure only the applicants with the highest levels of integrity are awarded positions with the CCSO. Background investigations involve polygraphs, psychological examinations, physical examinations, and drug screenings.
Email: DanielsB@ccso.us
Pre-Employment/Recruitment Unit
Seeks the best potential police and correctional officer candidates for employment with the CCSO. The unit attends job fairs and other events to engage those who are interested and to guide those who have decided to pursue careers in law enforcement.
Training Division
The Training Division ensures the CCSO meets state-mandated requirements and provides a variety of other training needs. Commanded by Captain Bobby Kiesel, the division is comprised of the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy, the Firearms Instruction Detail, and the Cadet Program.
Email: KieselR@ccso.us
Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA)
Provides entry-level training to all police and correctional officers in Southern Maryland. The SMCJA is funded and governed by the sheriffs’ offices in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties, which provide the Academy’s full-time staff of instructors and support personnel.
Once officers have completed entry-level training, they must complete a required number of hours of “in-service” training. The Training Division handles all annual in-service training classes and ensures all required documentation is submitted to the Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission (MPCTC) to maintain each officer’s State certification.
Firearms Instruction Detail
Comprised of highly-skilled instructors who must maintain expert proficiency in firearms. The Chief Firearms Instructor and his staff provide regular firearms training to all new and veteran officers and to Correctional Officers who carry firearms in the performance of their duties. In addition to the required qualification courses officers must complete annually for the handgun and twice annually for the shotgun and rifle, officers are also trained in tactical scenarios, shooting on the move, shooting behind various types of cover, general marksmanship skills, and various other courses of fire related directly to the performance of duties as a police officer.
Cadet Program
People ages 18-21 who want to pursue a career as a CCSO police officer gain invaluable on-the-job experience in the Cadet Program. Cadets perform a variety of duties while learning law enforcement techniques, CCSO policy and procedure, and criminal and traffic law. These duties include traffic direction and enforcement, seatbelt and child safety seat inspections, flagging abandoned vehicles, and truck and school bus safety inspections.