WHEELING — A veteran Ohio County law enforcement officer has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for sheriff in 2024. His hope is to improve the department’s relationship with both the community and local police agencies.

Retired Ohio County Sheriff’s Deputy John Haglock, 60, remains active in law enforcement as both the West Liberty Police chief and as a security officer with West Liberty University.

Additionally, he has returned as a school security officer (SSO) at Madison Elementary School.

“I just want to make a better relationship between the sheriff’s department and local law enforcement,” he said.

“There is an estranged relationship between some of the local police departments and the Sheriff’s Department, and I want to make a better working relationship in Ohio County.

“We need more team building. And we need to build a better relationship with the county commission, school board, and residents of Ohio County.”

Haglock said as sheriff he would make efforts to provide information to the public and media, and “would have an open door policy.”

Haglock was honored as West Virginia’s Prevention Resource Officer (PRO) Of The Year in 2019 after he and his wife took in three young children — all siblings– to make certain they had stability and wouldn’t be uprooted and moved elsewhere in the state.

That same year, he also received the Champion For Children Award presented by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Haglock worked 30 years in law enforcement, starting out with stints with both the Bethlehem and Benwood police departments before retiring as a deputy with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and remains an active member of the American Legion and VFW.

“I stand for honesty and integrity and am a hardworking individual,” Haglock said. “I am someone who wants to serve the community.”

Nelson Croft, also a retired deputy in Ohio County, has announced he will run for sheriff on the Republican ticket next year.