Emergency Services

The Washington County’s Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Hagerstown Police Department (HPD) Boonsboro Police Department (BPD), Hancock Police Department (HKPD) and Smithsburg Police Department (SPD), (together referenced as-Law Enforcement) work with Washington County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) to maintain a rotational list of towing companies for all Law Enforcement Response Areas. Collectively the tow companies used for Law Enforcement towing are referenced as “Tow List.” Tow companies included on the Tow List are dispatched by ECC to provide towing services on an on-call, as-needed basis.

Tow companies included on the Tow List must meet all criteria set forth in this Handbook and are solely responsible for meeting and maintaining the criteria, as well as passing all lot and vehicle inspections administered by WCSO on a random and as-needed basis at the sole discretion of Law Enforcement.

The Tow List is created by Washington County Tow Board members comprised of the following members: Sheriff of Washington County or identified designee, Chief of Hagerstown Police Department or identified designee, and Director of Emergency Services or identified designee. The Division of Emergency Services (DES) also provides a Tow Policy Coordinator (TPC) to oversee the program. The list is maintained and rotated by the ECC.

The Tow List is updated annually for a 12 month period from July 1st through June 30th. New Handbooks and fee schedules are issued prior to the start of the new Tow List; however, the Handbook and/or fee schedule may be revised at any time throughout the term of the Tow List at the sole discretion of Tow Board. Revisions, when applicable, are sent to all companies on the Tow List and are available by request to the TPC.

Tow companies that pass the inspection process are added to the Tow List. The final determination of which tow companies are included on the Tow List and the company’s associated response areas are made at the sole discretion of the Tow Board.

Tow companies not in agreement with the fee schedules are permitted to withdraw their names from the Tow List at any time.