CHESTER "ROGER" BISE

WHEELING – Retired Ohio County sheriff’s deputy and bailiff Chester “Roger” Bise likes the courts, and now he wants to serve as magistrate.

Bise, 56, worked 22 years as a deputy. During his last four years he was assigned as a bailiff to circuit court.

“I have always been in public service,” Bise said. “This is a way I can continue to serve the public.

“I spent several years as a bailiff in circuit court, and was able to view proceedings, how people testified, and the rulings of current circuit court judges,” he added.

Bise is running for the District 1 magisterial seat against incumbent Kevin Stryker, and the winner in the non-partisan race on May 14 takes office in January 2025. He promised to treat each and every individual before the court fairly, and to listen to evidence separately before making any decision.

“I want to make sure I am completely fair to everyone,” Bise continued.

He expects to see behavioral health issues before the court, as well as domestic violence cases.

“I suspect the homeless will fall into there, and I would have to take every case individually as an illness that needs to be treated,” Bise said.

Bise joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Wheeling Park High School in 1986. He spent 12 years in the military, with the last four being in law enforcement. Bise added that between 1987 and 1998 he served in supervisory roles.

Bise reports that while in the Navy, he trained in several specialties. He was a gunner on the USS Boulder; a patrol boat captain for Special Operations Unit 8 in Panama; a firearms range instructor; a Spanish interpreter; a base police officer; a law enforcement field training officer; and a Harbor Patrol Officer

“I completed my tour managing the Cuban migrant camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,” he said.

After Bise returned home to Wheeling, he was hired by the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office in 1999. He also served as chief of police for the village of Clearview from 2002 to 2014.

“A few years ago, I was certified as a crisis intervention team member,” Bise continued. “I’m known for treating people fairly – with honesty and with respect.”

After he retired in 2021, he took a job as a dog warden/human officer at the Ohio County Animal Shelter and continues to be employed there today.