The media report was inaccurate.
That is how Marshall County Sheriff Bill Helms explains the confusion over law enforcement coverage in Marshall County. It began on the Fourth of July and, after deputies did not respond to complaints in McMechen pertaining to fireworks, the sheriff was asked why his department did not react.
That is when Helms explained the jurisdiction of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
“There was a story that was reported by the two TV stations here in the valley, and WTRF got it wrong. Their headline was, ‘West Virginia Sheriff says he’s no longer responding to 911 calls in WV city,’ and nothing could be further from the truth,” Helms insisted. “What we don’t respond to calls concerning municipal ordinances in McMechen or in any other city on Marshall County. Well, my deputies cannot legally enforce municipal laws unless they are also state laws.
“That’s not what they have sworn to do while on duty,” the sheriff explained. “We enforce state law. That’s what we are sworn to do and that’s what we do. When I talked with the reporter from WTRF because I wanted the people in Marshall County to know that will respond to 911 calls as long as the issues are within our jurisdiction. We are not disregarding 911 calls. That’s what we get paid to do, but we are not paid to enforce city ordinances. It’s that simple.”
McMechen Police Chief Don DeWitt, Sheriff Helms said, is alone at this time to protect and serve the city’s citizens. On July 4th, a plethora of calls was received by the county’s 911 Center.
“I have spoken with (Chief) Don (Dewitt) and he just doesn’t have enough officers right now to cover McMechen 24 hours a day. I know Don works long days and does a hell of a job, and I’ve also heard he’s had some applicants recently and that’s great,” Helms reported. “This all started because of fireworks and fireworks are legal in the state of West Virginia. The fact fireworks are not legal to use in McMechen does not concern us.”
The majority of the time, though, the dispatchers and deputies are not aware whether or not some emergency calls pertain to state law or municipal ordinances, so they respond no matter what.
“There are calls received by the dispatchers with Marshall County 911 that probably didn’t need to be a call to 911 because it’s not really an emergency, but I was taught a long time ago that if someone is concerned enough to pick up the phone call the police, it’s a big deal to them,” Helms said. “Now, with that said, we have to prioritize our responses because of our staff shortage right now, but we have always responded to the most serious calls first.
“That’s just routine for us,” he said. “But I want the people in McMechen, and in Benwood, Glen Dale, Moundsville, and Cameron to know nothing has changed. I want everyone to know that we will be there to answer emergency calls. It’s what we have always done, but the WTRF report did not explain it well and it left a lot of people confused.”
Shiny Badge
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office conducted testing for new deputies on July 9 with a new pay scale in place. Thanks to funding made available by the Marshall County Commission, Helms can now offer a $52,000 salary plus full benefits and a fully funded pension after 20 years of service.
Last week, Helms welcomed a new deputy from that group, Cody McCormick, and that means the department now is five law enforcement officers short.
“Cody is our new deputy and he’s been able to get right to work because he was with the Wheeling Police Department for a year before coming to us here in Marshall County. We’re very pleased to have him come aboard because he was the valedictorian of his (police) academy class,” Helms explained. “I’m sure they will miss him in Wheeling, but I can fault anyone for trying to improve their lot in life.
“Deputy McCormick feels he’s improved his life by taking this position with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and I expect good things in the future for him and our department,” he said. “He’s a proactive person and I believe will be a tremendous asset to the residents of Marshall County.”
Helms was the first to sound the alarm in the Upper Ohio Valley which he defines as a “law enforcement crisis” because most departments in the region are short on officers. When Helms first tested to join the Moundsville Police Department 30 years ago, there were more than 200 men in the room.
“On July 9, though, we felt lucky to have nine individuals test to become deputies,” the sheriff said. “And we have another test coming up in early October because we are still in crisis mode.”
Marshall County is 312 square miles and reaches from the border of Ohio to the Pennsylvania state line. There are approximately 31,000 residents in the county.
“Despite Deputy McCormick coming on board, we are still five short and that means we are going about law enforcement a little differently than what we have in the past,” Helms said. “We do have another candidate going through the background check and I’m sure that will finish up just fine and we’ll bring on another deputy. This gentleman, though, will need to go to Charleston and attended the (State Police) academy.
“The fact that the members of the Marshall County Commission were able to increase the salary for our deputies has allowed us to compile a list of candidates for the first time in a long time. It’s actually made a huge difference as far as the interest is concerned,” he added. “Not only has the Commission allowed us to offer the $52,000 salary, but we are fully equipped with anything we may need for the people of Marshall County.”
