MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department has officially hired new deputies to fully staff their police force.
Sheriff Todd Forbes introduced incoming deputies Cadon Skavinsky, Andrew Mounts, Hunter Brewer, Ethan Weiss Knepp, Tavion Dillistone, Christopher Reseter, and Gavin Hissam in front of the Monongalia County Commission ahead of their formal approval to be hired into the department on Wednesday. This marks the first time in over half a decade that the department has had a full slate of deputies, with the new hires showcasing previous experience in local law enforcement and time served in the military.
“We’re really excited to be up to full staffing. I think it’s the first time in like six or eight years that we’ve been at full staffing, so we’re really happy about that,” said Forbes. “Now we have to get everybody to the academy and get them trained.”
The new deputies who were officially brought into the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday carry varying levels of experience as they enter the force. According to Forbes, two of the new hires have already gone through individual training as part of certifications from the West Virginia University Police Department and the Westover Police Department, respectively, with the other five previously serving in the military. With each of the new deputies bringing in experience in local law enforcement or high-stress situations ahead of training, Forbes has confidence in how patrols will be handled in the coming months.
“They’re young men just starting their careers; they’re really good employees now, and we’re really happy to work with them,” said Forbes regarding the new hires that are part of the department. “The majority of these guys are military guys, which is always a plus when we hire those guys.”
According to Forbes, two of the seven deputies are expected to be street trained by the end of the summer, with the remaining five scheduled to train at the West Virginia State Police Academy in August. Each of the officers will also go through a one-year probationary period that will also include mandatory ride-alongs with veteran members of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department. With at least a couple of new deputies expected to be street-ready at the same time as two deputies currently serving as school safety officers are expected to return to the road, Forbes feels the department will be in a great position heading into the fall when WVU students return.
“We’re able to get two guys that are certified that have already been in the academy, so they just need to ride along with a field training officer for a few weeks and they’ll be out there,” said Forbes. “So it’s going to make a big impact in the community when we’re able to get these guys serviceable.”
Five of the new hires will begin their tenure with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department on May 1, with two starting on May 16 due to military obligations. Pending any sudden changes during the training process, Forbes expects each of the new hires to complete the 16-week training course at the West Virginia State Police Academy by the end of the year, with 41 deputies expected to be on the road by the end of 2025. With over 365 square miles across the county that need to be covered by the department, Forbes is excited to see what can be done with a full police force.
“Hopefully by the end of the year everybody will be fully trained and have some more boots on the ground for the citizens,” said Forbes.