Beckley, WV (WOAY) This Thursday, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office promoted four sergeants to the rank of lieutenant. Sergeants Raschard Cox, Lonnie Carper, and Gary Epling were all promoted to lieutenant alongside another officer who is unnamed for security reasons.
Sheriff Frank Priddy says that these experienced officers will make the department stronger in their new roles:
“I’m proud to promote four sergeants to the rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant is a very important rank to the department…I’m so proud that we have these four officers who got that today. Very, very well deserved.”
Lieutenant Raschard Cox said that receiving the promotion feels surreal, but he plans to do his best to make the department as good as it can be:
“Well, it’s kind of let me know how long I’ve been here. My daughter’s here now, my son. And when I was first sworn in, she was six months old. So it’s been 18 years. It’s been a long time…how much I’ve experienced for the 18 years that I’ve been here at the department doing different roles, and now I’m looking at the position where, when I was the deputy, looking up to seniors, it’s kind of surreal to be in that spot.”
Lieutenant Lonnie Carper thanked God for keeping him safe long enough to earn his leadership role:
“I’m extremely happy and blessed and fortunate that, you know, the Lord’s blessed me to make it this far in my career safely, and I look forward to the future.”
Lieutenant Gary Epling says he is glad to have finally earned his promotion, and plans to do everything he can to support his fellow deputies.
“Out of 33 years, you know, it’s… time has came up on when I never thought I would. And finally, it has come. The only thing I know that I’m going to strive to do is you’ve got to set an example, and you’ve got to work with your guys and make sure that they have everything to effectively do their job.”
