The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) remains one of the busiest law enforcement agencies in Virginia serving populations under 20,000, according to the 2023 Crime in Virginia Report. Released during the summer of 2024 by the Virginia State Police Data and Reporting Team (DART), the report confirms Patrick County’s continued position alongside Scott and Buchanan counties as the busiest jurisdictions in their category.
Despite the heavy workload, Sheriff Dan Smith pointed to a relatively low crime rate in Patrick County. “Even though we are very busy, our incident rate is still low, at 4.45 percent (per capita), compared to 4.24 in 2022, which is much lower than the state average,” Smith said.
Crime and Arrest Statistics
The report shows that Patrick deputies handled 715 reported incidents and made 468 arrests in 2023. Virginia State Police (VSP) contributed to local law enforcement efforts by investigating 18 offenses and making 16 arrests. DMV data reveals that Patrick deputies investigated 15 reportable traffic crashes, while VSP troopers assigned to the county investigated 142 crashes, including six fatalities.
Specific crimes reported in 2023 included:
- Homicides: 2
- Felonious assaults: 26
- Misdemeanor assaults: 51
- Larcenies: 32
- Narcotics offenses: 78
- Breaking and entering: 7
- Frauds: 14
- DUI arrests: 24 (12 by PCSO, 12 by the Virginia State Police – VSP)
The totals align closely with those from 2022, according to Smith. “We continue to work extremely hard to combat the distribution of illegal narcotics in our county,” he said. “The sale of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs are the root cause of most of our illegal activity.”
Smith also highlighted the department’s high crime clearance rate, noting that the PCSO solved 65.45 percent of all reported crimes in 2023. “This is extremely efficient compared to other localities,” he said.
Traffic Fatalities a Persistent Challenge
Traffic fatalities remain a significant issue for Patrick County, which ranked among the highest for rural counties in 2023, trailing only Madison and Sussex counties.
“Unfortunately, Patrick County is no stranger to having high traffic fatality rates; this has always plagued us here,” Smith said. DMV crash data shows that nearly all traffic fatalities in the county were related to speed or alcohol. Nearly all fatalities are either speed or alcohol related, according to DMV crash data provided by troopers who worked those fatal crashes in Patrick. Smith said his office is working closely with VSP troopers to increase highway visibility and reduce fatalities.
Operational Workload and Community Engagement
The report also highlights the extensive responsibilities handled by PCSO in 2023:
- 911 calls received: More than 70,000
- Calls requiring law enforcement response: More than 14,000
- Traffic stops conducted: 2,095
- Civil court documents served: 9,043
- Inmate transports conducted: 367
- Community watch meetings held: 40
- Summonses issued: 801
The average daily inmate population in Patrick County jail was 81, Smith said. PCSO also provides school resource officers, animal control services, and security for general district, juvenile and domestic relations, and circuit courts. Smith said his office also is assisted and works closely with Game Warden, Dale Ownes, of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Commitment to Professionalism
Smith emphasized the professionalism of his department, noting that PCSO is among the 25 percent of Virginia law enforcement agencies accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission.
“We are a professional organization, and we are honored to serve the best place to live and raise a family,” Smith concluded.
