Three hundred years. That’s how long the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff has served Prince George’s County. Standing before this very building you’re witnessing a legacy. A legacy forged in the fires of colonial Maryland.
The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff wasn’t always housed here in Upper Marlboro. Its story began in 1696. Thomas Greenfield the first sheriff set up shop in Saint Paul’s Church in Charlestown. It wasn’t long before the county seat moved to a storehouse then finally to Upper Marlboro in the 1720s. That’s where county government courts and corrections remain today.
Sheriff Greenfield’s duties were extensive. He collected taxes made proclamations called court sessions. He also administered punishments. The job was demanding. He maintained the county jail. He enforced the law. He was paid in fees not a salary. Perhaps a portion of a hogshead of tobacco for each prisoner.
The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff played a surprising role in American history. During the War of 1812 the British passed through Upper Marlboro. Some soldiers looted local farms. A sheriff’s posse arrested them. The British commander retaliated. He arrested members of the posse including Dr William Beam. Beam’s brother-in-law Francis Scott Key witnessed the attack on Fort McHenry. The resulting poem became our national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner.
Even during the Civil War the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff remained busy. The county was under martial law. There were conflicts between local authorities and federal troops. In one incident a Confederate soldier killed a federal soldier. He then stole a horse. The sheriff captured him. A tense standoff ensued with federal cavalry. The sheriff ultimately handed over the prisoner.
For years the sheriff’s office and local constables provided adequate police protection. After the Revolution sheriffs were elected by the voters. This continued until 1929. That’s when the county created its own police department. The county was rapidly expanding becoming a suburb of Washington DC. The sheriff retained some duties. He continued running the county jail. Conflicts between the two agencies inevitably arose. In 1969 the legislature redefined the sheriff’s role.
A fascinating lesser-known fact involves the U.S. Marshals. In the late 1950s a former Prince George’s County sheriff became a U.S. Marshal. He brought along former deputies. They established a more proactive approach to law enforcement. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office maintain a close relationship to this day.
The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff ran the county jail until 1978. The county then formed the Department of Corrections staffed by former deputies. The current facility is a state-of-the-art correctional center.
Today the office is large employing around 290 personnel. They process thousands of warrants serve countless civil processes and protective orders. They handle evictions provide courtroom security transport prisoners and extradite fugitives. The Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff is a vital part of the county’s justice system. Its three-hundred-year history continues. It continues to protect and serve the citizens of Prince George’s County.