Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Special Response Team conducted intensive tactical training at the Ohio Valley Tactical Training Complex in Clarington last May. (Photo Provided)

MOUNDSVILLE — Marshall County Sheriff Mike Dougherty is reflecting on his department’s success in 2025 and looking forward to more progress this year.

“As the sheriff of Marshall County, I am ecstatic that our office has come back together and is working as a team, with increased morale,” he said. “This has truly been a team effort by everyone – myself, my administrative team, and all of our deputies. I am proud to announce that we now have a full staff with no open positions. Our deputies have put in countless hours to solve crimes, resulting in numerous arrests and felony indictments.

“We have brought back focused patrols to enforce traffic laws and make our county’s roads safer, conducted countless security checks on businesses and neighborhoods, and participated in several community events throughout the year – including Shop with a Cop for the first time ever and hosting a community pool day at Cameron Pool.”

During 2025, Dougherty said the department had 13,597 calls for service in 2025, compared to 8,709 calls in 2024. The calls included proactive policing and those initiated by residents.

“We have increased the number of deputies on the road, on the water, and off-road during major holidays, reducing serious incidents,” he said.

“We have implemented and hired part-time transport officers – each a state-certified law enforcement officer – to assist in transporting mental hygiene patients to hearings and hospitals. By utilizing them, we keep deputies on patrol where they are needed most.”

Deputies’ cruisers now contain mobile data terminals, computers that allow them to enter data for reports while in their vehicles, helping them to stay on the road instead of in the office doing paperwork, he said.

“In-car cameras have been purchased for all cruisers and are awaiting installation. This will be the first time in over a decade that cruisers will have in-car cameras,” Dougherty said. “All cruisers are now equipped with automatic external defibrillators, allowing deputies to respond to cardiac arrest calls. Our deputies also respond alongside EMS and fire departments to assist in emergencies.”

He noted the department has a “much better working relationship” with other first responders in the county including fire, EMS, emergency management, and 911 dispatch, “thanks to constant communication and regular meetings, all to better serve our citizens.”

“Deputies assisted our neighboring Ohio County Sheriff’s Office during the tragic flooding in Triadelphia and worked with them and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office on numerous investigations,” he added.

Deputies have also increased their firearms and defensive tactics training, along with advanced-level training courses. They also received new Glock 9mm pistols.

“We have added three new School Resource Officers to better protect our children throughout the county’s school system,” he said.

“The Special Response Team has been reactivated, participated in several advanced training schools, and completed numerous missions, including high-risk calls and warrant arrests.”

And in 2025, the Marshall County Drug Task Force handled more than 65 cases, “leading to numerous arrests and indictments at both the state and federal level, the seizure of several houses used for drug trafficking, and a large amount of illegal drugs and firearms.”

Dougherty said the department is looking forward “to providing even better service to our citizens in 2026.”

“I want to thank the Marshall County Commissioners for their support in providing the necessary funding to accomplish many of these goals,” he added. “And most importantly, I want to thank you – the citizens of Marshall County – for your unwavering support of the Sheriff’s Office.”