After 14 years with the Moundville Police Department and nearly 11 with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Deputy Bill Helms is running to become the next sheriff.
Helms, who has been in the chief deputy position for nearly eight years under Sheriff Kevin Cecil, made the decision to file to be on the ballot because he believes it is what he is supposed to do.
“I’m 50 years old now, and I have been in law enforcement more than half of my life. It’s what I know, and it’s what I do, and I believe I’m good at it. I believe it was my calling,” Helms explained. “I was born and raised in Marshall County, and I know the area, and I know what’s going on. Plus, I know what the people want because I want it, too.
“As the county’s sheriff, you’re in a pretty unique position to be able to make that happen,” he said. “I’ve heard their complaints and I know what our residents are concerned about, and they know that if there is something happening, that all they have to do is call me, and I’m going to do whatever it is I have to do to help those folks. That’s how this works.”
Understanding the Job
Helms believes his service as chief deputy has properly prepared him to take the next step in his law enforcement career.
“Over the last eight years I have worked very closely with Sheriff Kevin Cecil, and that has taught me a lot about running the department, working with the deputies, and making sure the people of the county are taken care of,” Helms said. “When you are not in one of these leadership positions, you may not realize everything that goes with it.
“There are a lot of administrative duties the chief deputy has to handle on a daily basis, but I still like to get out of the office to do some patrolling to see what our residents are dealing with,” he continued. “But there are a lot of issues like the budget and the time constraints that you do have to address as the chief, and it’s been my pleasure to do all of those things. It all has to mesh.”
But it is still about the residents of Marshall County and protecting the people, according to Helms.
The People
“Through the years I’ve had almost every job you can have while working with the Moundsville Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office,” Helms said. “I like people, and that is why I have always preferred the positions where you are talking with the residents on a daily basis. I’ve been bitten by that bug.
“Through the years I’ve made sure that I have taken advantage of as much training as I could,” he continued. “I’ve always believed that if I was trained as much as possible, I’d be able to help the people even more, and that I could help our deputies do the same thing. That’s what this job is all about.”
Helms also enjoys attending local events where he is able to interact with those residents because, that way, he is in an informal setting where people tend to be more comfortable with sharing their concerns and even their ideas. He has heard the worries about the truck traffic and road conditions, and he has conversed with them about the drug trafficking and school safety.
Believing in the Community
For example, Helms and his wife recently attended a fundraiser for the John Marshall softball team, but not because he is running to become the county’s next sheriff.
“My wife and I have gone to those kinds of events for many years because we truly believe in our community,” the chief deputy said. “And those things are a lot of fun for us because we know so many of the residents of Marshall County.
“And, now that I am running to become the next sheriff of Marshall County, I am asked for one of my yard signs by so many people, and it’s really humbling. It feels great to have the support of so many of my neighbors,” Helms added. “We live in a great county when it comes right down to it, and that is why I decided to run for the office. I want to continue to be a part of this community for a long time to come.”
