The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has a proud history that dates back to 1637, just three years after English setters landed at St. Clement’s Island and established the Maryland colony. As Black History Month concludes, the Sheriff’s Office notes and celebrates its history. In 1977, Joseph Lee Somerville became both the first black sheriff in St. Mary’s County and in the state of Maryland when he was appointed by the governor to complete the previous sheriff’s term. Sheriff Somerville went on to win the 1978 election for St. Mary’s County Sheriff, which then made him the first elected black sheriff in St. Mary’s County and in Maryland as well. At the time of the 1978 election, Sheriff Somerville was only the sixth black sheriff in the entire United States, according to “America’s First, A History of America’s Oldest Continuously Operating Sheriff’s Office.” A native of Loveville, Somerville was also St. Mary’s County’s first black sheriff’s deputy when he joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1966. Sheriff Somerville passed away on April 1, 2021 at the age of 81. Sheriff Somerville saw two of his sons continue in his tradition of law enforcement as Kevin Darryl Somerville served with the St. […]
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