Nelson Croft To Manage Ohio County Animal Shelter
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WHEELING -- During a career that spanned 31 years, Ohio County Sheriff's Deputy Nelson Croft brought many criminals into custody.
His new charge will be to corral dogs and cats and bring them back to the Ohio County Animal Shelter, now that he is the shelter's new manager.
Croft, 50, signed off with 911 dispatch for the last time Thursday shortly before county commissioners approved his appointment as animal shelter manager.
"I still love law enforcement," he said. "I still have a passion for it. But I have turned 50.
"When I started at age 19, I told myself I would retire at 50 with 31 years of service. I couldn't pass up this opportunity, and I'm really excited about it."
Croft acknowledged law enforcement has changed over the years - "some for the good, some for the bad."
"There comes a time when you have to move on," he said.
Croft starts his new job Monday, and will be paid $40,000 annually, according to County Administrator Randy Russell. Russell said he will put Croft to work immediately as the pair will collaborate on hiring a new animal control officer.
Croft succeeds Doug McCroskey, who retired in November. McCroskey held both positions of animal shelter manager and animal control officer, but those two positions have now been separated.
Among those present at Thursday's meeting to congratulate Croft was Sheriff Tom Howard, who said the department is getting to the point where many of his deputies are about to retire.
"Anytime you lose that kind of time with somebody who does a great job for the department, it's a loss," Howard said. "Over the last five years we worked together, and I got to promote him to (the rank of) major.
"It's a huge loss to the department, and I wanted to thank him for his time."
The commission will next meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling. Commissioners also announced the Ohio County Development Authority will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 24, tentatively at the Highlands Event Center.