Marshall County is within the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area although the city of Wheeling spans both Marshall and Ohio counties. The sheriff’s office is located in the county seat of Moundsville, which stretches alongside the Ohio River.
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Marshall County has a population of 32,674. The overall crime rate in the city of Moundsville, which only has 9,173 residents, has jumped from 88.3 crimes for every 100,000 residents in 2003 (well below the national average of 298.5) to 374.1 for every 100,000 residents in 2011. This is considerably higher than nearby cities in Marshall County, most of which have a crime rate well below the national average.
The deputies with the criminal investigation division investigate all felony crimes committed in the county.
Becoming a Detective with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office
Satisfying the Qualifications – The following requirements must be met in order for an applicant to be considered for a deputy job with the Marshall County sheriff’s office:
- 18 years old or above
- High school graduate (college studies are an advantage)
- Valid driver’s license
- Clean driving record
- No felony or serious misdemeanor convictions
- No domestic violence history
- Law enforcement or military experience desirable
Applicants who satisfy the above qualifications are required to take and pass the following tests:
- Written civil service examination, which covers such basics as vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing ability, spelling, number problems, general knowledge
- Agility examination, which involves performing a minimum of 27 sit-ups and 18 push-ups in one minute each and run 1.5 miles in less than 15 minutes, 20 seconds.
Training – All deputies receive eight hours of speed enforcement training and four hours of patient assessment – trauma care. In addition, sworn officers must take a certain number of continuing education courses every year. Courses provided include:
- Threat preparedness
- Pharmaceutical drug diversion
- Legal/ethical issues
- Firearms training
- Interview and interrogation techniques
- Defensive tactics
- Search techniques
- Active shooter response
How to Apply for a Deputy Job – Application forms for a job as deputy with the Marshall County sheriff’s office can be downloaded at their employment website as well as dates and places for both the written exam and the agility test.
Completed applications should be returned to the sheriff’s office at the Marshall County Courthouse, 600 Sixth Street, P.O. Box 648, Moundsville, West Virginia 26041. Tel.: 304-843-1500; FAX 304-843-1551. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.
Organization of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia
The Marshall County sheriff’s office is divided into the following divisions:
- Road Patrol
- Special Response Team – high risk warrants and searches
- Criminal Investigations – Investigates felony rimes
- K-9 Unit – routine patrol and drug searches
- ATV – patrols terrain not suitable for regular vehicles
- Boat Patrol – patrols the Ohio River
- Court Security
Duties of deputies in the criminal investigation division include:
- Surveillance of suspected criminal activity
- Development and use of confidential informants
- Examination of crime scenes
- Collection and preservation of evidence
- Witness interviews
- Interrogation of suspects
- Execution of search warrants
- Make arrests
- Attend autopsies
- Analysis of evidence
- Preparation of reports
- Appearance in court