Wirt deputies to patrol Elizabeth after loss of State Police detachment

ELIZABETH, W.Va. — The Town of Elizabeth will have to depend on Wirt County sheriff’s deputies to patrol the area for the next year following the closure of the West Virginia State Police detachment there.

“We have a sheriff and two deputies, but they do send a State Police from Parkersburg if needed, but the problem with that — it takes time to get here from Parkersburg. That’s a good 15-20 minute drive,” said Elizabeth Mayor Penny McVay.

The WVSP detachment in Elizabeth closed earlier this year.

McVay said the town is now looking to create its own police department, but can’t make any hires until they receive money from the state Home Rule Board in July 2018. They also plan to implement a one percent consumer sales tax to help pay for the creation of the department.

“We have to wait until July 1, 2018 before we’ll be able to afford to start our own police department, so it’s kind of put us in limbo right at the moment,” she said.

Because there are only a few deputies to cover the county, McVay said she’s concerned about the safety of residents.

“They’re spread thin. They have to go out in the county too and a lot of times they’re out in the county and we have a problem in town — it does get scary,” she said.

The department will include one or two part-time police officers. McVay is looking to issue contracts this year. She said they’re looking forward to having their own police force for several reasons.

“It’ll be safer for the residents. We’ll be able to enforce our ordinances — that’s a big problem we have,” she said. “There’s a lot of different situations that we need to cover with a police officer.”

McVay said the town already has a police cruiser in place.

Last November, State Police announced the closure of detachments in Elizabeth, Grantsville and Hundred. Two troopers were staffed at Elizabeth.





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