Wood County Sheriff image.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — There’s a new sheriff in town in Parkersburg. However, he’s anything but a stranger to those around the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.
Rick Woodyard was appointed to the position following the retirement of embattled former Sheriff Steve Stevens.
Rick Woodyard was named to the position soon after Stevens left office on Dec. 1. He has a 37-year history with the department having served from deputy all the way up to captain and the former chief deputy.
“It’s something I intended to do when the previous sheriff’s term expired. It’s something I’ve always set a goal for,” Woodyard told MetroNews in a recent interview.
Woodyard ran in the last election and was defeated.
He takes over the department which was in turmoil over Stevens’ leadership style. Wood County deputies had given the former sheriff a vote of no confidence. Woodyard said soon after he was on board, the morale around the department changed.
“I think a lot of the temperament has evened out.. I was a member of the SWAT team here, I was an executive officer, I know most of the ranking officers and the senior staff. In fact, I had a lot to do with their interviews when they were hired,” he explained.
Prior to his appointment as sheriff, Woodyard was director of the county’s 911 system. He retained the position even as sheriff and said the dual role was working well.
“Of course I have some very good staff up there and it’s working out really well. Some of our record management systems link into the 911 center. If we need to get something done, it’s just a phone call away,” Woodyard said.
Woodyard has already taken steps to make changes in the department. He’s assigned a deputy to become part of the LEAD program. The program was initiated by the Parkersburg Police Department to help individuals who suffer from a substance use disorder by diverting them from jails and prisons to treatment and recovery programs. Woodyard wants to expand the program, which is run in conjunction with the DHHR, county-wide.
He also said he wanted the department to be more active with the local substance abuse treatment center and the county’s Drug Court program.