Beckley, WV (WOAY) – Four deputies with the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office walked into Judge Todd Kirby’s courtroom at the Raleigh County Judicial Annex on Monday and walked out as sergeants.
Sheriff Frank Priddy promoted the four to the rank of sergeant, a position he says carries real responsibility.
“It’s a very, very important position in the police department,” Priddy said. “They are now supervisors and they actually lead the shift of guys from call to call to call. They have to make split decisions that are very, very important. And you need to have good quality people in that position.”
Reaching the rank takes years of hard work and devotion. Priddy said all four earned it.
“You’re probably looking anywhere from around ten years or so, eight years, but it’s your first step in the supervisory role, and in my opinion, probably the most important … and today we promoted four people who absolutely can do that,” Priddy said.
Among the new sergeants is Christine Schack, who has twelve years with the department.
“When I started, I was on road patrol as a deputy, as a slick sleeve deputy as we like to call it … having my supervisors show me the ropes and how to handle situations,” Schack said. “And now I’m in that position where I can show some guys and girls the ropes and how to handle the situations that I was once in their shoes. So it’s very rewarding.”
For Sergeant Ricky Talley, promoted after a decade on the road, the focus is leadership.
“Just to be a good leader,” Talley said. “I want to be someone that the people below will look up to and be a good example to them, and just be able to give them wisdom for anything they might need help with.”
Schack said the promotion means more because of who she earned it alongside.
“I’m super excited for these guys working side by side. They deserve it so much,” Schack said. “I’ve been with them, they’ve been with me for most of my career. They really deserve it. I’m excited for them as well.”
