Programs
Operation Blue Ridge Thunder
 Operation Blue Ridge Thunder works under the auspices of the Bedford County Virginia Sheriff's Office and is comprised of a cooperative group of law enforcement agencies on the international, federal, regional, state and local levels. The Mission of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder is to safeguard our children from Internet crime by "weaving a seamless web of protection" around them, across the nation and around the globe. A child's innocence can never be replaced.
Safe Surfin' Foundation
There is an alarming abundance of horrifying statistics that support a global need for a national educational program such as Safe Surfin'. Children have an ever-growing curiosity of the Internet. Combine their need to explore with the rapidly evolving cunning of those who seek to exploit children, more and more often the results are devastating.
C-SORT – Child Sex Offender
Registration and Tracking – The state of Virginia has made great strides
in enforcing the registration of sex offenders. However, local law
enforcement must rely upon the Virginia State Police Sex Offender
Registry for information regarding convicted sex offenders. Access to
this information is limited, at best, as it can only be accessed via the
Internet. Thus, there is no readily available information regarding
convicted sex offenders to officers in the field. In the event of a
missing child or any other matter regarding a child, sheriff’s personnel
have no readily available information regarding convicted sex offenders
who may reside in the area of the incident. This funding enables the
Sheriff’s office to increase the accountability of convicted sex
offenders through regular and consistent monitoring of sex offenders via
personal visits by law enforcement.
All convicted offenders residing in
Bedford County and City will be identified, verified that they are
properly registered, will be entered into BCSO’s database that includes
information regarding their appearance, updated photographs, employment,
vehicle identification, family history, current legal status, etc. It is
anticipated that the increased accountability placed upon the convicted
sex offenders will prevent crime through their reduced involvement in
criminal activity as well as reduce sex offender recidivism due to the
projects increased supervision of this class of criminal.
BCSO's C-SORT unit is under the supervision of Chief Gary Reynolds,
Retd., Special Assistant to the Sheriff.
C.A.T. Eyes Program
 Anti-Terrorism Initiative:
The Bedford County Sheriff's Office responded to the terrorist attacks on the United States while the rescue efforts were underway on the morning of 9/11/2001. Mobilizing all available deputies, alerting the community and safeguarding strategic sites in Bedford County were the first steps taken by Sheriff Mike Brown. Since that date Sheriff Brown has been diligent in his work to detect and prevent terrorist activity within Bedford County and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Sheriff Brown's ongoing programs to combat terrorism include a partnership with the Community Anti-Terrorism Training Institute, a nationwide program educating citizens and law enforcement officers on how to recognize early signs of terrorist activity and what to do with that intelligence information. The program involves the joint efforts of law enforcement and the community and thereby enhances neighborhood security, heightens the community's power of observation, and encourages mutual assistance and concern among neighbors. Four staff members from the BCSO have been certified as instructors. Those Deputies have been conducting training throughout the Commonwealth during the past year.
The citizens training program, which lasts approximately 90 minutes, is available to interested civic groups and organizations upon request. Many groups such as Neighborhood Watch and RSVP have already begun training of their members. There is no charge for the instructor to present the course at a location convenient to the class attendees.
Interested civic groups and law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth of Virginia can contact Lt. Tony Martin at
tmartin@bedfordsheriff.org
to request more information or to set up a training program. Agencies and organizations outside the Commonwealth may contact Lt. Martin for referral to an instructor in their home state. Private corporations concerned about terrorist attack are also invited to inquire about threat assessment and training costs provided by C.A.T. Eyes.
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