Photo by Derek Redd Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertferger, right, introduces new deputy chief Maj. Terry Walls, center, and his wife Rachael on Tuesday.

Maj. Terry Walls is the new deputy chief of the Wheeling Police Department, but he’s a familiar face to WPD Chief Shawn Schwertfeger.

Schwertfeger was extremely pleased to see Walls sworn in Tuesday at the WPD headquarters, calling him a “rockstar” in law enforcement.

“Of the top five law enforcement officers I’ve worked with, he’s clearly in that mix,” Schwertfeger told the audience assembled.

“A few things come to mind when I think of Terry Walls: integrity, professionalism, service, dedication, loyalty, work ethic and skills. Maj. Terry Walls is the epitome of them all.”

Schwertfeger learned this when he joined the Albemarle County Police Department as a sergeant assigned to patrol and became Walls’ immediate supervisor. Schwertfeger ultimately came to Wheeling and Walls continued moving up the ranks in Albemarle County, retiring in December 2024 as a lieutenant colonel.

Walls said that, in looking for his next opportunity, he didn’t want to join a police force that was in need of a major overhaul. In the Wheeling Police Department, he said he found the right place to continue his career.

“I think that this is the perfect fit,” Walls said. “The Wheeling PD is, in my opinion, probably the leading police agency in West Virginia. I hope that, with my experience, I can build on that a little more.”

Walls brings 28 years of law enforcement experience to the WPD. While in Albemarle County, he oversaw agency operations and management, led community engagement and collaborated with various organizations on public safety initiatives. The West Virginia native, raised in Mercer County and a 1995 graduate of Bluefield State University, will serve as the operations bureau commander and oversee the patrol and training divisions.

Walls will join fellow Deputy Chief Josh Sanders, who serves as the department’s investigations bureau commander.

Schwertfeger said that his experience with Walls should make this reunion a successful one.

“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “His performance was outstanding. It only makes it easier that I know and trust him.”

Walls said he and Schwertfeger share similar views and priorities with peer counseling and crisis intervention, and he believes his presence in the department will make what he feels is an already effective organization in those categories even better.

“I think it’ll work great,” he said. “I think that my experience with programs we developed in Virginia 10 or 12 years ago will fit here now. I have the experience and that knowledge to bring some of that.”