Sheriff Fred A. Thompson

As your Sheriff I welcome you to our revamped website. You will be able to explore programs and services that we offer to the citizens of Belmont County. Our goal is to offer you, the tax payer, the best protection and service available. I am currently serving my second term as your Sheriff, having first been elected in 2004. I am both honored and humbled by the support that I have received from the citizens of our communities.

I started my law enforcement career at Barnesville Police Department in 1969, one week after returning from Viet Nam, where I served a thirteen month tour of duty with the 82nd Airborne and Americal Divisions. While in Viet Nam my wife was killed in a car crash outside of Barnesville. This is the main reason that I got into law enforcement. I thought that if I could help someone from going through the anguish that I experienced, by enforcing traffic laws that would hopefully save a life.

I was born and raised in Barnesville where I graduated from Barnesville High School. I then graduated from the Wheeling Barber College before being inducted into the United States Army for two years. I started with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office in 1976 under Sheriff George Neff, and then continued to work at the Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Cathy Crumbley. I left the Sheriff’s Office in 1978 to work as an investigator with the Public Defender’s Office. In 1985 I went back to the Sheriff’s Office where I worked for Sheriff Tom McCort as a Detective. I stayed with the Sheriff’s Office until 1996 when I took a job with Belmont County Common Pleas Court as a bailiff and probation officer until I was elected Sheriff in 2004.

In 1993 I was awarded the Outstanding Peace Officer of the year for the investigation and conviction of serial killer Tom Dillon, who is spending the rest of his life in prison.