JOHN HAGLOCK

WHEELING — John Haglock has spent his life in law enforcement, and he sees the next Ohio County sheriff as someone who must rebuild relationships in the community.

Haglock, 60, is the Democratic nominee for sheriff on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. He faces Chief Deputy Nelson Croft, a Republican.

“There are several important issues facing the Sheriff’s Office at this time,” Haglock said. “First and foremost (there is a need) to repair the relationship between the Ohio County Commission and the Sheriff’s Office.

“I currently have a very good relationship with the county commissioners and fully believe that we will have a good working relationship — with both of us eager to work as a team to support the citizens of Ohio County.”

Haglock worked 30 years in law enforcement, starting out with stints with both the Bethlehem and Benwood police departments before retiring as a deputy with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department. He remains active in law enforcement as both the West Liberty Police chief and as a security officer with West Liberty University.

Additionally, he returned as a school security officer (SSO) at Madison Elementary School after the Wheeling Police Department contracted with Ohio County Schools to provide officers.

“We have to repair the relationship between the Ohio County Board of Education and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office and get deputies back into the schools where they belong — protecting our most precious commodity, our children, as well as the teachers and citizens of Ohio County,” Haglock said. “We also have to repair the relationship between the OCSO and the Wheeling Police Department.

“I have spoken with Chief (Shawn) Schwertfeger, who is currently my employer, and who has provided officers and retired officers in conjunction with the Ohio County Board of Education to get officers in as many schools as possible. And I believe that together, we (the police and sheriff’s departments) can provide the Ohio County Board of Education with additional officers to ensure that there is a resource officer in every school, which every school deserves.”

Haglock noted that his record shows that he cares for others in his community. He is a lifelong resident of Ohio County, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a retired Ohio County Deputy with over 30 years of law enforcement experience.

“Professionally, I am currently committed to serving my community by protecting the children,” he added.

Haglock said while he is proud of many moments during his career, he is most honored and humbled with receiving the following awards: the West Virginia Rookie Resource Officer of the Year, the West Virginia Resource Officer of the Year, and the Champion of Children Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia.

He said while speaking to members of the community, some of their concerns include the traffic on Two Mile Hill near The Highlands, and “the accidents and deaths that have occurred and the lack of enforcement and the lack of presence of law enforcement (there) – particularly the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office.”

His goal as sheriff would be to have “the best trained and most well-equipped law enforcement officers in the state of West Virginia.”

“My officers and I would live by the golden rule in treating others with respect and understanding,” Haglock said. “Although we hold positions of accountability, my plan would be to do so with compassion and grace.”

“Our job is to enforce the law, but not to judge them. Therefore, our goal is to make someone a better person by reminding them of the resources they can be provided to help develop plans to make them more successful in life. By doing so, I believe this grants us all the privilege to be the change we wish to see in the world,” he said.