History of the Sheriff's Office

The history of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office dates to the 18th century when the town was incorporated in 1779. The following year, the local court appointed a Town Sergeant who also served as the town's jailer.
Page updated on August 21, 2024 at 11:10 AM
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About the Sheriff's Office

The Virginia Sheriff is a Constitutional Officer elected every four years and is the executive officer of the Court and the “keeper of the jail.” The Sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs have both criminal and civil jurisdiction. The Sheriff’s Office is also responsible for service of all court legal documents, execution of arrest warrants, and general public safety and law enforcement. All powers, responsibilities and duties of the Sheriff’s Office derive from common law, the Virginia Constitution, the Code of Virginia and the City of Alexandria Charter.

Alexandria, a city independent of any county, takes pride in its rich and diverse history which predates the establishment of the United States of America. Though officially incorporated in 1779, Alexandria was founded in 1749. On the second Saturday in July, the City celebrates its birthday in recognition of July 12-13, 1749, when the first lots in Alexandria were publicly auctioned.

Eighteenth Century

Alexandria, a city independent of any county, takes pride in its rich and diverse history which pre-dates the establishment of the United States of America. Though officially incorporated in 1779, Alexandria was founded in 1749. On the second Saturday in July, the City celebrates its birthday in recognition of July 12-13, 1749, when the first lots in Alexandria were publicly auctioned.

Shortly after incorporating, Alexandria established its own government in 1780 and the local court, the Hustings Court, appointed Michael Gretter as the Town Sergeant and collector of tithables, or the tax collector. Gretter had also served as jailer, or “gaoler” as it was then spelled, since at least 1768, when the jail was located at Market Square.

Established in 1791, the federal capital of the District of Columbia took land from Maryland and Virginia, including Alexandria.

Nineteenth Century

Historic black and white image of old city jail with brick wall, all painted white

From 1801 until it was retroceded to the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1847, Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia. During this time, Alexandria’s judiciary, including courts, court officers and marshals, were federal. As a result, Alexandria no longer had a Town Sergeant but it did receive a new jail after an act of Congress approved $10,000 in federal funding for construction.

The Old Jail

Designed under the direction of architect Charles Bulfinch, the jail (at right) was located at the northeast corner of Princess and North St. Asaph streets and completed in 1827. Those housed in the jail included convicted criminals, debtors and enslaved people, and during the Civil War when the federal authorities controlled Alexandria, military prisoners were also held there. The jail building itself was located along North St. Asaph Street, and a high, whitewashed wall ran south and then east along Princess Street. The brick wall, as tall as 20 feet by 1896, met the building to the north, enclosing the jail yard. The jail yard sometimes served as the site of executions for those sentenced to death. In 1899, a Black teenage prisoner named Benjamin Thomas was abducted from the jail by a mob, dragged several blocks, and lynched at the corner of King and South Fairfax streets. An illustrated marker at the old jail site was installed in 2023 and explores the jail's history as a site of racial terror.

Post Retrocession

After Alexandria and Alexandria County (today Arlington County) were retroceded to Virginia in 1847, the county court recommended three justices to the Governor to serve as Sheriff. All three, William Minor, Turner Dixon and George White, served as Sheriff for the county and the city, with the position rotating based on seniority of the justices.

The Sheriff’s duties included overseeing the jail but it was common practice for the Sheriff to lease out the jail to a jailer who would operate it and collect fees from the state for housing and feeding prisoners. For example, in 1861, jailer James Cole paid Sheriff Charles M. Castleman $200 a year to lease the Alexandria jail but received 35 cents a day for each prisoner held there.

After the Civil War ended and the occupying military forces returned Alexandria to local control, officials re-established the necessary government bodies and agencies. In 1870, the state authorized an elected City Sergeant for Alexandria who would receive the same fees as “allowed by law to the sheriffs of counties for similar services.” The same act noted that the Alexandria jail would be used by the city and county but authorized the City Sergeant to “discharge the duties of the jailor of both city and county of Alexandria.”

The position of City Sergeant reflected Alexandria’s growth and standing as a city and would be the municipal equivalent of the elected Sheriff in Virginia counties for the next hundred years.

Twentieth Century

For most of the 20th century, guards provided security in the jail under the direction of a jailer who reported to the City Sergeant. The City Sergeant continued to be responsible for court matters such as service of legal papers and the City Sergeant worked at City Hall where the courtrooms were located on the North Fairfax Street side.

In fall 1969, City Sergeant Raymond Fogle announced he had hired the first African American employees to supervise inmates at the jail. A brief newspaper article described Milton Jasper as a “guard” and Pearlie Mae Lynch as a “matron.” While both had similar responsibilities, Jasper would have overseen male inmates and Lynch would have supervised female inmates. Lieutenant Jasper served until the end of 1971 and Head Matron Lynch retired in 1977.

In 1971, Virginia eliminated the position of City Sergeant in municipalities and directed that the person holding the office continue as City Sheriff until their elected term expired. City Sergeant Fogle became the City of Alexandria’s first Sheriff and those executing the duties of his office became deputies. Fogle was elected to the office in 1973 and retired four years later.

portrait of Deputy William G. Truesdale

Michael Norris won election as Sheriff in 1977. He sought to modernize the Office and jail operations and in 1980, the City selected the site of the new facility that would replace the aging jail. On January 27, 1981, Deputy William G. Truesdale was escorting prisoners from court, still located at City Hall, back into the jail when one grabbed the deputy’s gun. The suspect shot Deputy Truesdale in the chest and then fled but was captured a couple blocks away. Deputy Truesdale was transported to Alexandria Hospital where he died a short time later. Later that spring, the new courthouse opened at 520 King Street.

The jail had expanded and modernized several times before a new detention facility opened in 1987 on Mill Road. After 160 years of service, the old jail was sold to a developer but part of the jail’s façade and the wall on the corner still remain.

Though planning and construction of the new jail continued under Norris, it was during James H. Dunning’s first term as Sheriff that the new detention center opened. The Adult Detention Center through an agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, also housed federal prisoners, including high profile ones such as Zacarias Moussaoui and Robert Hanssen. The Sheriff’s Office sought and achieved national accreditations from the American Correctional Association, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Dunning served 20 years before retiring in 2005.

Twenty-First Century

Sheriff Dana Lawhorne was first elected in 2005 and was unopposed in the next three elections. He served four terms and announced his retirement in 2021. He expanded the Office’s community involvement and implemented programs such as Project Lifesaver and Away from Home Checks to enhance public safety. He also expanded programs for inmates, offering more educational opportunities and job training and professional certifications that would increase employment prospects for those reentering the community. In 2011, the jail was officially renamed the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in honor of the deputy slain 30 years earlier.

Sheriff Sean Casey took office on January 1, 2022 and currently oversees a workforce of 168 sworn deputies and 36 civilian personnel carrying out the mission of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

History Highlights

Explore the people, places and events associated with the history of the Alexandria Sheriff's Office.

deputy in uniform
Uniformed Sheriff's Office staff, one Black man and one Black woman, taken in the 1970s
white building where jail was located
three uniform patches for Sheriff's Office
Deputy with brown cruiser in 1970s
Deputy with cruiser and K9
black and white image of brick buildings
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Grid View Close Modal
deputy in uniform
Sergeant Elsie Taylor-Jordan (1926-2014) was likely the first woman and among the first African Americans to serve as a deputy sheriff in Alexandria. Known in the community as "Ms. Elsie," she began serving as a deputy in the jail in the early 1970s and later earned a promotion to sergeant. After leaving ASO, she worked as a civilian employee at City Hall and remained active in the community.
Uniformed Sheriff's Office staff, one Black man and one Black woman, taken in the 1970s
In fall 1969, City Sergeant Raymond Fogle announced that he had hired Milton Jasper and Pearlie Mae Lynch as the first African American employees to supervise inmates at the Alexandria jail. A brief newspaper article described Jasper as a “guard” and Lynch as a “matron.” While both would have had similar responsibilities, Jasper would have managed male inmates and Lynch would have supervised female inmates.

In 1971 Virginia eliminated the title of City Sergeant and those serving in that capacity became Sheriffs. Many jail employees who had been guards or jailers became deputies. In late 1971, when he resigned, Milton Jasper held the rank of Lieutenant. Pearlie Mae Lynch served in the jail for several years and had attained the rank of Head Matron before she retired in 1977. 
white building where jail was located
The old jail at Princess and North St. Asaph streets operated from 1827 to 1987. This view shows the portion that faced St. Asaph Street, including a historic façade that was preserved and remains today.
three uniform patches for Sheriff's Office
During the history of the Alexandria Sheriff's Office, deputies' uniforms have had three different patches. The current design with blue and gold was adopted in 2019 when the Office transitioned from brown to navy blue uniforms.
Deputy with brown cruiser in 1970s
Deputy Don White stands outside his Ford Galaxie cruiser in the 1970s with Jefferson Memorial Hospital in the background. Courtesy of Don White.
Deputy with cruiser and K9
Deputy John O'Hara and his partner Sherman were the Office's first K-9 team. They earned several awards for explosives detection.
black and white image of brick buildings
The Public Safety Center, seen here as construction was being completed, opened in 1987. It replaced the jail and police station that had been in Old Town.

Other Resources

The Alexandria Library Local History/Special Collections holds some archival records from the Sheriff's Office related to the jail. The materials have been digitized and are part of the Alexandria Library Digital Special Collections.

Below: Jail Register excerpt, 1929, from Alexandria Office of Sheriff Jail Records, Folder 10 Digital Object, courtesy Alexandria Library.

hand written list of inmates on a ledger for the Alexandria jail