New Ohio County Magistrate Bill Lemon, right, is sworn in to office this week by chief Ohio County Circuit Judge Joe Barki. (Photo provided)

Editor’s note: Mike Lemon’s first name is William, but goes by Mike. The story has been edited to reflect that.

WHEELING – Ohio County has a new magistrate who starts work on Monday, and he brings both military and law enforcement experience to the job.

Mike Lemon was sworn in to the position on Thursday, and he spent Friday shadowing the magistrates.

He was appointed to the role by Chief Circuit Judge Joe Barki. Lemon will fill the office left vacant following the retirement of former Magistrate Patty Murphy on Jan. 31.

Lemon’s unexpired term ends on Dec. 31, 2028, and the seat won’t appear on election ballots until that year.

Lemon, 56, is retired from long careers in both the Air Force and the West Virginia State Police. He served 26 years at both vocations, with some overlap in the National Guard.

While in the Air Force, he was a captain and commander of a security forces unit. He had three combat deployments, serving in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi freedom.

After retiring as a trooper in December 2024, Lemon was hired by the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a civilian investigator focussing on white color and money laundering crimes.

He also has been serving as executive director of the West Virginia Narcotics Officers Association – an organization that supports and trains law enforcement offices in the best practices and sophisticated technologies available to those going after drug traffickers.

Lemon explained he now must dissolve all of his relationships with law enforcement after taking over as magistrate.

“There are two tenets I’ve tried to live my life by – integrity first, and service before self,” he said. “My service in the military has taught me to build on this and to use this to navigate two dynamic careers and fields successfully.”

His background also has taught him some valuable people skills.

“Treating people fairly with dignity and respect is always the best practice,” Lemon said. “Whether it’s on the street or in the courtroom, daily interactions matter.”

Lemon is a native of New Martinsville who graduated from Magnolia High School. He went on to Fairmont State College to study criminal justice before joining the West Virginia State Police.

While assigned in Wheeling he met his wife, L. Danae DeMasi-Lemon, then an assistant U.S. attorney. They settled in Wheeling in 2014.

He credits DeMasi-Lemon, now a policy attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, for convincing him to apply for the appointment as magistrate.

“She believed I still had room to grow as a man and father, as someone to give back to the community,” Lemon said. “Her support has been tremendous.”