Hampshire County just criminally charged former Emergency Management Director Darron Hamrick for implementing widely-used emergency alert software that was intended to improve response times. We're calling on the Hampshire County Commission and Sheriff Nathan Sions to drop these charges immediately.

What Happened

Chief Hamrick activated a trial of Chief 360 emergency alert software—a system widely used across the region and recommended by first responders in neighboring counties. He initiated the trial because the existing system (Active 911) was unreliable: it was costing up to 3 minutes in response time, sometimes failed to alert responders at all, and frequently provided incorrect addresses or GPS coordinates—or no address information whatsoever. In emergency services, 3 minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Unreliable alerts put both responders and citizens at risk.

For initiating a trial of better software, he now faces misdemeanor charges for "obtaining confidential public information" and "unauthorized access to a computer service." At a recent county commission meeting, a commissioner acknowledged that no direct policy was violated. The consequences to the county still haven't been explained.

Read the full Hampshire Review coverage: Hampshire Review (subscription required), recent Facebook post.

Chief Hamrick's leadership made Hampshire County's emergency response stronger. He implemented better training programs, improved coordination between agencies, and put systems in place that protected first responders and citizens. Under his leadership, volunteer companies grew stronger and career staff had the support they needed to do their jobs safely.

Now Hampshire County has lost Chief Hamrick, Deputy Director Hope Friis, and Training Officer & Captain Courtney Turner—experienced professionals who were doing exactly what we needed them to do.

The unusual jurisdictional structure in Hampshire County—where the sheriff controls the 911 Center rather than emergency management—has created ongoing tension over operational decisions. This looks like a jurisdictional conflict, not a criminal matter.

What We're Asking

We call on the Hampshire County Commission and Sheriff Nathan Sions to:

• Drop the criminal charges against Darron Hamrick immediately
• Issue a public apology to Chief Hamrick, Hope Friis, and Courtney Turner
• Work to restore effective emergency management leadership that prioritizes first responder and public safety

Watch the January 5 county commission meeting where Chief Hamrick received the Commission's disciplinary action (timestamp 2:11:37)

Watch the recent January 28 county commission meeting discussing these issues

Losing good leaders over jurisdictional disputes hurts everyone. Our first responders deserve leadership that protects them. Our citizens deserve an emergency response system that puts safety first.

Hampshire County needs to heal from this ordeal. Dropping these charges is the first step toward rebuilding trust between our emergency services and county leadership. We need officials who will work collaboratively with the professionals who risk their lives to keep us safe—not punish them for making decisions in good faith to improve our response capabilities. Our county's ability to attract and retain qualified emergency management professionals depends on how we handle this situation. Let's choose a path forward that prioritizes public safety, respects expertise, and restores confidence in our local government.

Who We Are

This petition is initiated by Hampshire County volunteer firefighters and EMTs, but we welcome support from emergency services professionals, residents, and concerned citizens across West Virginia and beyond. If you believe criminal charges are the wrong response to an operational decision made in good faith, add your name.