Ohio County Sheriff’s Department Aims To Hire More Deputies in the Future
The Ohio County Sheriff's Department recently hired two more deputies, but will likely add two or three more to its ranks in the near future.
"On our current list so far, we've hired two. We actually had a total of nine pass the written test and the agility test. We're looking at our last applicant on our current list," said Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard. "The one we're interviewing now, he will be the last one on the list."
The latest list the department was able to hire from resulted from testing that occurred last April. Howard said he plans to hold testing again in the fall, perhaps in October, so he can hire another two to three deputies.
The department currently has 32 deputies on staff including himself as sheriff.
Howard said it has been difficult for law enforcement agencies across the country to find new recruits, and his department is no different. As more long-time deputies retire the slots need to be filled. Sometimes a deputy will find another job that pays higher, and Howard does not fault them for that. He knows, he said, that sometimes people need more money to provide for their families. That's why he said he hopes to get pay raises approved by the Ohio County Commission.
Howard believes the starting pay rate could be more competitive, too. Currently the starting wage for a new deputy is about $44,000 for a non-certified deputy and about $47,000 for a West Virginia certified officer.
Howard believes the starting wage should instead be about $53,000. He said his department used to be one of the higher paying ones around; however, others have increased their wage putting his department behind.
"For what they do, they put their lives on the line every day," Howard said. "All law enforcement officers do.
"We don't just hire anybody and the job is not for everybody," he added. "It's changed from 25 to 30 years ago. Even the crimes we deal with have changed. ... There are internet crimes, sexual crimes, scams, and drugs are just rampant."
Law enforcement, he added, also continues to deal with scrutiny from the public and some people have lost trust in their law enforcement officers as well.
In addition to patrolling duties, deputies also serve as courtroom security and they transport people who are deemed mental hygiene cases.
Howard said after taking the civil service test, officers must also pass an agility test, which includes timed sit-ups, pushups and a 1.5-mile run that must be completed in 14 minutes, 30 seconds. Applicants cannot be older than 45 years old. Those who pass the necessary tests must also be interviewed. If all goes well they will enter the West Virginia State Police Academy. Additional training takes place at the department. Deputies patrol with another seasoned deputy for a year before being allowed to patrol alone.
The department's headquarters are located on 16th Street in downtown Wheeling. It has a substation at The Highlands - a shopping area that has grown so much it looks like a small city itself - and a smaller substation at the West Liberty University campus.
"I'm very supportive of our deputies. They do the best they can out there with the time and equipment we have," Howard added.