John Orem for Berkeley County Sheriff
John has lived in Berkeley County since 1982 and has experienced the dramatic changes our county has gone through during that time. After graduating from Martinsburg High School in 1986. John was employed with the United States Postal Service until he was offered and had accepted employment with the Martinsburg City Police Department in 1990. During those years, John has purchased property near Tabler Station Rd where he has raised his family. John is married to Sher Orem who he shares a son and stepson with. His wife is a full time stay at home mother. In addition, John has three older sons. Family has been a strong point during John’s life.
John began his law enforcement career in 1990. He successfully completed the West Virginia State Police Academy and earned his State of West Virginia certification in that same year. As a Patrolman, John emerged himself in this unique field with passion. Having assignments that ranged from community foot & Bike patrol to regular patrol. His passion grew (and has never subsided) Taking every opportunity to acquire additional training in different facets of police work. John was able to build a long list of certifications.
In or around 1993, John was exposed to a new and exciting way of policing called community networking. A tool that proved itself invaluable to working hand in hand with the community. With this implementation he was able to gain great trust within the community opening up communication between the citizens in which he served, allowing for a better community to be released from issues that were brought to the surface and addressed that normally may have gone un-reported. Unfortunately in late 1999 John was forced to retire due to an injury which at the time did not allow him to continue in the field of law enforcement which he had come to love.
From that point up into the present John successfully built from ground up multiple business enterprises. Security Guard and patrol companies , Real Estate, property acquisition and management companies of which he managed and brokered, to Bail Bonding companies covering three states. Although these companies have been very successful, the burning passion for law enforcement never subsided.
A decision was made in early 2012 to seek the office of Sheriff of Berkeley County. With the support of employees, elected officials, community leaders, friends and family, John has started his campaign.
Throughout his law enforcement & private career, training has been a very important part of Johns’ philosophy. He has chosen to acquire licensing in property & casualty insurance,a real estate broker’s license, DCJS Licensing for a private security training school instructor, and a NRA Police Firearms Instructor. John is also a proud life member of the NRA. John has attended dozens of training sessions on a wide variety of topics to include legal issues, personnel policies, critical incident and haz-mat management, hand to hand combat, and survival tactics.
He continues to try and enhance the lives of the citizens of Berkeley County through his community involvements by sponsoring soccer, cheerleaders & football teams within the county. He is also a regular contributor to missing children programs, The Berkeley county Sheriff’s departments yearly calendar and other community events.
John and his family still live on that same parcel of land he purchased so long ago in the county he loves and supports. They attend the First Baptist church of Inwood and is a well-respected businessman within our county and state.