Botetourt County Sheriff's Office Command Staff
Matthew T. Ward is the Sheriff of Botetourt County.
Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia designates the Sheriff as
a constitutionally elected officer of the county. The Sheriff is the Chief Executive Officer
within the Office. The Sheriff derives his authority from the Constitution of Virginia,
The Code of Virginia and the Ordinances of Botetourt County.
Sheriff Ward was elected Sheriff of Botetourt County, Virginia on November 5, 2019
and entered office on January 1, 2020. Sheriff Ward began his career with the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office in September of 1996.
CHIEF DEPUTY
Jeff Boone, Major
Major Boone began his career in the Town of Vinton Police Department in 1995. He started in Patrol before moving to Criminal Investigations and then as a Patrol Sergeant. Major Boone came to Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) as a Patrol Deputy in 1999. He was promoted to Sergeant in January of 2004 and earned the rank of Patrol Lieutenant in 2015. In January of 2020, he was promoted to Captain where he supervised the Law Enforcement Division. During his tenure here at BCSO, he has served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT) acting as ERT Team lead and severed as Team Commander from 2018 until 2022. Major Boone became the Chief Deputy in July of 2022.
Major Boone is a Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI), Use of Force Instructor/Analyst, he was awarded the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy Award. Major Boone is second in command and assumes the roll of Chief Executive Officer in the absence of the Sheriff.
Major Boone served in the United States Marine Corps from 1988 – 1994 and is a Veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
D.C. Dillow, Captain
Law Enforcement Division
Captain Dillow began his career in Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 2000 as a Patrol Deputy. Working in patrol until 2005, when he moved to the Investigations division. He was promoted to Sergeant of the Investigations division. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2020. During his tenure here at BCSO, he has served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as a Sniper and an Entry operator. He is also a graduate of the Virginia Forensic Science Academy in 2007 and was awarded the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy. Captain Dillow became the Law Enforcement Division Commander in July of 2022.
Captain Dillow earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bluefield College in 2003.
Captain Dillow served in the United States Marine Corps from 1992-1998.
Law Enforcement Division
Captain Dillow began his career in Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 2000 as a Patrol Deputy. Working in patrol until 2005, when he moved to the Investigations division. He was promoted to Sergeant of the Investigations division. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2020. During his tenure here at BCSO, he has served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as a Sniper and an Entry operator. He is also a graduate of the Virginia Forensic Science Academy in 2007 and was awarded the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy. Captain Dillow became the Law Enforcement Division Commander in July of 2022.
Captain Dillow earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bluefield College in 2003.
Captain Dillow served in the United States Marine Corps from 1992-1998.
S.M. Gathje, Captain
Services Division
Captain Gathje began his career with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 1998 as a Patrol Deputy. Working in patrol until 2004, when he was promoted to Sergeant. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2018. During his tenure here at BCSO he has served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as a Sniper and Entry Team Member, he has also been certified as a Field Training Officer, Sniper/Spotter, Dare Instructor, Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Intervention Phase I & II from the National Tactics Officer Association. FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association - Supervisor, Command, and Executive Level Institute Leadership Training. Captain Gathje became the Service Commander in January of 2022.
Captain Gathje served in the United States Marine Corps from 1989-1998.
Services Division
Captain Gathje began his career with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 1998 as a Patrol Deputy. Working in patrol until 2004, when he was promoted to Sergeant. He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2018. During his tenure here at BCSO he has served on the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as a Sniper and Entry Team Member, he has also been certified as a Field Training Officer, Sniper/Spotter, Dare Instructor, Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Intervention Phase I & II from the National Tactics Officer Association. FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association - Supervisor, Command, and Executive Level Institute Leadership Training. Captain Gathje became the Service Commander in January of 2022.
Captain Gathje served in the United States Marine Corps from 1989-1998.
L.A. Huthwaite, Captain
Chief Correctional Officer
Captain Huthwaite began her career with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 2007 as a Corrections Deputy. Working in corrections until 2012, when she was promoted to Sergeant. She was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2012. During her tenure here at BCSO, she has been certified as a Field Training Officer, in the LIDS-Local Inmate data system. Community Policing Defined Training, Certificate in Violence Interdiction: a proactive approach to mitigating conflict training by Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, Crisis Intervention Team Training Culture, Crisis, and Decision making- Leading Ethically in Turbulent Times training by Center for Police Leadership and Ethics.
Captain Huthwaite earned her Associate in Criminal Justice from Virginia Western Community College in 2005.
Chief Correctional Officer
Captain Huthwaite began her career with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in 2007 as a Corrections Deputy. Working in corrections until 2012, when she was promoted to Sergeant. She was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2012. During her tenure here at BCSO, she has been certified as a Field Training Officer, in the LIDS-Local Inmate data system. Community Policing Defined Training, Certificate in Violence Interdiction: a proactive approach to mitigating conflict training by Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, Crisis Intervention Team Training Culture, Crisis, and Decision making- Leading Ethically in Turbulent Times training by Center for Police Leadership and Ethics.
Captain Huthwaite earned her Associate in Criminal Justice from Virginia Western Community College in 2005.
