Community

Ohio County Swears In Four Deputies

WHEELING - Law enforcement agencies are finding it hard to hire new recruits, and four deputies sworn in to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department say it's a job a person "just has to want to do."

Deputies Brittany Brown, Chris Flowers, Bruce Wisecarver and Aiden Zamborsky received their oath from Circuit Judge David Sims on Thursday.

Their addition gives the department a total of 32 deputies, said Sheriff Tom Howard.

"According to the county commission, we're fully staffed," he added.

Law enforcement is generally in need of officers, and Howard said it is a very rewarding job for those who want to do it. He will conclude his 30-year career at the end of 2024.

"You get to work with the community, and most of the time you get to deal with good people," Howard continued. "You're helping people, and that is what this job is about.

"We all have made arrests we didn't want to, but most of the time you're just dealing with good people who need assistance."

Two of the new hires are experienced "and can be put on the road right now," Howard said.

He termed Brown "a seasoned officer" he and Chief Deputy John Schultz worked with before when she trained with them to become a prevention resource officer in schools.

A Moundsville native, she returned to the Ohio Valley following 16 years with the Randolph County Sheriff's Department.

"It's just something I always wanted to do," Brown said. "When I moved back home, I kind of stepped away from it for a little bit and decided I'm just not cut out to do anything else.

"I personally think it's just part of who you are. You either want to do it or you don't. I don't think you can convince somebody to do it, but if you feel passionate we could really use the help."

Zamborsky didn't want to talk, but Howard and Schultz were quick to speak for him and say he had experience and they were glad to have him aboard.

"We knew he was a good candidate because the sheriff and I trained him at one point," Schultz said. "As training officers, we knew his skill level was already there."

Flowers comes to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department from the Wheeling Police Department.

"I found out I really enjoyed helping people, and I really enjoyed doing the job," he said. "I looked for a place that was more welcoming, like this department."

Flowers said he had always wanted to be in law enforcement since he was a child.

"I just always liked the idea of helping people, and putting bad people in jail," he added.

Working in Ohio County will be the first job in law enforcement for Wisecarver, who also noted the number one reason he got into law enforcement "was to help people."

"I always wanted to be a deputy since I was 6 years old," he said. "I used to watch cops with my grandpa every week. I liked it. It just stuck with me for some reason. It was interesting and always exciting.

"You have to really want to do it. You just can't find people to fill it (the job). You have to have that drive and already want to do it," Wisecarver added.