Chester Sheriff Underwood elected to national sheriffs’ board of directors

Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood has been selected to serve on the National Sheriffs’ Association board of directors – the first a time a first-term sheriff has served in a leadership post for the nation’s largest sheriff’s organization.

Underwood was elected this week at the organization’s convention in Baltimore, Md. More than 3,000 sheriffs are part of the group, which is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism in the field.

“It is a great honor to be asked by other sheriffs in this great country,” Underwood said by phone from Baltimore. “I will help any way that I can.”

Earlier this year, Underwood was selected South Carolina sheriff of the year by the state’s 45 other sheriffs.

Underwood was elected in 2012 and almost immediately became a statewide and national figure by:

▪ Publicly challenging Chester County politicians for more money to hire more deputies.

▪ Declaring war on gangs after the killing of a Chester City Council member.

▪ Helping a Pennsylvania child have a dream hunting trip after a Facebook mix-up.

The former State Law Enforcement Division agent joins more than 20 other sheriffs from around the country on the board of directors.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Chester Sheriff Underwood elected to national sheriffs’ board of directors."