Article Photos

WHEELING - Wheeling City Council Chambers overflowed with well-wishers this morning as the city formally welcomed its new police chief, Robert Matheny.

Before a host of family, friends, colleagues and officials from both Wheeling and Clarksburg, Matheny took the oath of office.

Matheny assumes the post vacated in July by Kevin Gessler. He retired from his position as administrative lieutenant for the city of Clarksburg before accepting the job as Wheeling police chief.

"I'm excited and ready to get busy," Matheny said following his swearing-in ceremony conducted by City Clerk Janice Jones.

Matheny began in law enforcement in 1985, most recently serving the city of Clarksburg as the administrative lieutenant, a position that functions as assistant chief of police.

He has significant experience in police management, criminal investigation and tactical operations. In addition to being a certified West Virginia police officer, Matheny is a certified national police officer and a certified firefighter.

In Clarksburg, he served as supervisor of the patrol division, was a community relations officer, detective division supervisor, patrol division supervisor and Department of Civil Rights officer. He also was a SWAT commander and Detective Division officer. He is a 2008 graduate of the FBI Academy, where he completed courses in labor law and management.

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron was among those formally welcoming the new police chief.

"His experience and leadership will serve the Wheeling Police Department and the citizens of Wheeling well. He will be an outstanding addition to our city," Herron said.

Mayor Andy McKenzie echoed the city manager's thoughts.

"We're excited to start a new era. It's great to see all the members of his family here and we can see there is a lot of support," McKenzie said. "It speaks well of him that there is such a (large) turnout."

In addition to Matheny's family members, those in attendance included members of the West Virginia State Police, Clarksburg Police Department, Ohio County Sheriff's Department, Wheeling Police Department, and officials from the cities of Wheeling and Clarksburg.

Clarksburg Police Chief Marshall Goff said he worked for 20 years with Matheny.

"He is confident and I have the utmost respect for him, " Goff said. He's capable and Wheeling made an excellent choice. I hate to lose him because he's an asset and a friend, but it does give us a Wheeling connection."

Matheny's wife Melissa was teary-eyed as she watched her husband take his oath before the large contingent of supporters.

"This is his dream," to be a police chief. "We're really grateful to be a part of it all. It's a big deal. People love and respect him and they want to be a part of it."