311 E. Alder Street
Oakland, MD 21550
(301) 334-1911 (phone)
(301) 334-8852 (fax)
Mission Statement
   The Garrett County Sheriff 's Office is a full service law enforcement agency; a service provider and a custodian of offenders. In this regard, it exists to serve all the people within Garrett County with integrity, respect, fairness, and compassion. The Sheriff's Office is committed to the prevention of crime; the protection of life and property; the preservation of peace and order; the enforcement of laws and ordinances the safeguarding of constitutional rights and the security of prisoners. The foundation is community service, with goals to enhance the quality of life, investigating problems as well as incidents, seeking solutions and fostering a sense of security in communities and individuals. The men and women of this office nurture public trust by holding themselves to the highest standards of performance and ethics. To fulfill this mission, the Garrett County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to providing a quality work environment and the advancement of its officers through training, experience, education, and leadership.

  

  Sheriff Berkebile was elected in 2006. Sheriff Berkebile's law enforcement background includes 3 years with the Metropolitan Police in Washington, DC. and 25 years of service with the Maryland State Police. During his tenure with the Maryland State Police in addition to patrol duties, he was assigned as a K9 handler and Criminal Investigator. He retired from the Maryland State Police at the rank of Sergeant in 1996. From 1997 until elected he served as Chief Deputy at Garrett County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Berkebile is active in various organizations and community events in Garrett County.

 

MAJOR TERRY SCHLOSSNAGLE
CHIEF DEPUTY
GARRETT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Major Terry Schlossnagle is currently the Chief Deputy with the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.  He has been in law enforcement for 36 years.  Born and raised in Garrett County, he graduated from Southern High school and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 18 and served for 3 years, obtaining the rank of Specialist 5th class.  He attended the Army Vietnam Warfare School and in 1968, Major Schlossnagle was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, South Vietnam.  While in Vietnam, Major Schlossnagle earned the presidential Bronze Star and two Army Commendation Medals.  He has also been awarded the U.S. National Defense Medal; Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, the South Vietnamese Government Medal, and the Cold War Certificate of Recognition from the Secretary of Defense.

Upon receiving an Honorable Discharge from the army, Major Schlossnagle began his law enforcement career with the Howard County, Maryland Police Department where he proceeded thru the ranks as Private First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant, retiring with the rank of Detective Lieutenant.  While employed with that agency, Major Schlossnagle worked in a variety of assignments including Detectives, Violent Crimes, and Internal Affairs (Office of the Chief of Police).  He has commanded various units to include the Hostage Negotiations Unit, Criminal Investigations Division, Support Services Division, and the Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence Division.  Major Schlossnagle was also trained as a Polygraph Examiner and participated in several national serial murder investigations. 

During his career, Major Schlossnagle has received numerous awards and citations from a variety of agencies including valor awards and Unit Citations.  The agencies include the FBI, Secret Service, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, Howard County Government, Maryland State Fire Marshall, Maryland Law Enforcement Officers, Howard County Sheriff, Governor of Maryland, Howard County States Attorney, and the Baltimore City Police Department.  He was also named a Territorial Marshall by the Governor of Oklahoma.  Major Schlossnagle was named the police officer of the year for Howard County in 1973 and employee of the year in 1999.  He was designated as a Criminal Investigations Expert in U.S. District Court in 2001.  Major Schlossnagle has been appointed to a variety of boards and committees including a Bank Robbery Task Force for the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, consultant to the University of Maryland Police Department polygraph program, Director of the Maryland  Polygraph Association, and the executive board of the Maryland Association for Bank Security.  He has coordinated and participated in security details for Presidents James Carter and William Clinton and was a guest speaker in Oklahoma at a national conference on Serial Murders, Unidentified Bodies, and Missing Persons and has instructed numerous classes for a variety of law enforcement agencies. 

Major Schlossnagle was subsequently hired by the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office where he served in Court Security and as the Community Services Coordinator.  He was assigned as the Detention Center Administrator prior to being appointed as the Chief Deputy.

Major Schlossnagle obtained an Associate of Arts degree with Honors in Criminal Justice and a Certificate in Police Administration, and has attended the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia.  He has also completed the Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and courses at the FBI Academy.  Major Schlossnagle is a member of a variety of organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Fraternal Order of Police.