Watauga County Sheriff's Deputies, Detention Officers and Telecommunicators are all certified by the North Carolina Sheriff's Standards Commission. 

Deputies have complete authority to apprehend and arrest anyone who violates any North Carolina law in Watauga County; including the jurisdictions of Appalachian State University, United States and North Carolina Park Property, state or county owned property, and within any incorporated municipality within Watauga County.  It should be noted that most violations on or within Appalachian State University, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, Seven Devils and the Watauga Medical Center are normally enforced by that jurisdiction's respective law enforcement agency.  The Watauga County Sheriff's Office  has "Mutual Aid" agreements with all surrounding counties (Ashe, Avery, Wilkes, and Caldwell).  In addition, the Watauga County Sheriff's Office may call on other federal and/or state law enforcement agencies (ATF, FBI, NC SBI, Secret Service, NC Highway Patrol, etc.).