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Virginia Sheriffs’ Association
The Voice of Virginia’s Sheriffs & Deputies

The Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office has experience great success over the past years with two of the public outreach programs they are offering. The first program is a Firearms Safety and Awareness course designed to make citizens aware of safe storage and handling practices as well as the laws and expectations surrounding responsible gun ownership. Upon completion of the 4-hour course students are presented a certificate of completion and to date RCSO has provided this class to over 300 citizens.

The second course is a situational awareness and basic self-defense course, designed to address some basic concerns regarding personal safety that may arise in society today. The course (AVOID) was created by RCSO staff and is instructed by members of the defensive tactics instructor cadre. These courses have been designed with versatility in mind, allowing staff to teach them on site or travel to other locations within the Valley.

Citizens attending these classes are asked to make a donation of 10 non-perishable food items, which are then distributed by RCSO staff to organizations throughout the area. To date RCSO has collected and redistributed over 3,000 lbs. of food to faith based organizations, food pantries, LOA and other similar organizations throughout the surrounding areas.

Anyone interested in information about these two programs should contact Deputy Chad Beheler RCSO Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].