The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce a significant change in our appearance. You will soon begin to see Botetourt County Sheriff’s Deputies proudly wearing an all-black uniform.
A uniform committee was created, recognizing the need for a new uniform that meets the needs and the demands of modern policing. The decision to transition to a new uniform was made after careful consideration and feedback from both our uniform committee and our staff. The committee collaborated with leading uniform manufacturers and distributors for public safety professionals, to ensure we were getting a practical, durable, and functional uniform. In a comprehensive assessment, the uniform committee discovered that 80% of today’s uniform market predominately deals with black and blue materials. These colors are readily available and are becoming the standard in the industry. The remaining 20% of the uniform market encompasses a wide range of colors including the brown citizens are accustomed to seeing, limiting our options.
The change in the uniform design also signifies the Sheriff’s Office's commitment to modernization while preserving our traditional values and principles. A driving factor in this change was considering the comfort and well-being of our deputies. The new uniform is purpose-built and designed to meet the demands of our law enforcement officers’ daily duties.
“Our new uniform represents a significant step forward for our department by equipping our deputies with the best tools to perform their duties”, said Sheriff Matt Ward. “I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility, and I am pleased that the transition to our new uniform was accomplished without any additional financial burden to the taxpayer or our budget.”
The transition to the new uniform will be implemented on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.