Harrison County Sheriff’s Department swears in first female deputy

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — History was made Tuesday in Clarksburg as the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department swore in Kaleigh Wetzel, its first-ever female deputy.

The department announced on Monday that it had officially hired Wetzel, who previously served in Lewis County. While she’s the first woman to be hired within the law enforcement division, Harrison County has other women who work in the jail division, legal process, tax and other divisions.

Officials with the department said that they’re excited to become a gender-neutral department that serves a diverse population.

“It’s very likely that, looking over the list in the process, we have other females that are in the process and quite possibly one of them will be hired in the near future,” Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said. “So, you know, excited that we’re changing with the times.”

Though Wetzel is taking a big step for women within Harrison County, she said she hopes the community will put her role as a deputy first.

“You know I’m the first female of the sheriff’s office, but I’m just like any other officer. I just want to do my job, go home at the end of the shift and that’s about it. So, hopefully, I get you know treated like that by the community,” said Wetzel.

In addition, the department also swore in Roger King who comes to Harrison County from the City of Dunbar as well as Joni Childers as the new chief tax deputy.

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