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Rob Elbon resigned as a Randolph County Magistrate in January to campaign as a Republican candidate for Randolph County Sheriff.
In 1984, Elbon was hired by then-Sheriff John C. Arbogast as a part-time bailiff/part-time process server for Randolph County. The following year, he was hired as a correctional officer for the Randolph County Jail and successfully completed the West Virginia Corrections Academy.
Less than a year later, Elbon was promoted to chief correctional officer at the facility before going to work for the United States Marshal Service as an intermittent deputy United States marshal. In that role, he was responsible for transporting prisoners and working in the Federal Court, serving warrants across the Northern District of West Virginia. He continued in that position until 1995.
In 1995, Elbon was hired as a deputy sheriff for the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, where he spent the next 10 years, earning many accolades.
Elbon graduated third in his class from the West Virginia State Police Academy in 1996; attended many training classes and acquired several certifications in law enforcement through Marshall University while completing the WVSP Academy training; was certified in Advanced Auto Crash Investigation in 1998; and was certified as a Highway Crash Reconstructionist through the University of North Florida, located in Jacksonville, Florida, also in 1998.
In 2004, Elbon retired from the force with 20-plus years of service to the county.
Following his retirement from the sheriff's office, Elbon went to work for the United States Marshal Service as a court security officer, protecting Judge Robert Earl Maxwell and other federal judges who presided over court hearings in Elkins at the Jennings Randolph Federal Building.
He has also spent the majority of his life -- since the age of 14 years old -- serving the community in different capacities through the Tygart Valley Fire Company and Elkins Fire Department.
Elbon said if elected he will work hard as sheriff to assist with many of the problems plaguing the county, with a strong emphasis on combating drugs and homelessness, as well as promoting drug education and awareness to youth.
His goals include enhancing safety in communities by increasing patrols and working toward 24-hour deputy presence, actively pursuing drug traffickers and slowing the trade and usage of opiates and other deadly drugs; combating homelessness throughout the county, educating children about drug-free lifestyle alternatives and promoting anti-drug and anti-bullying campaigns throughout the county and school system, assigning a deputy to every county school to develop a relationship with each child in the school as well as offering support to teachers and staff and expanding the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.
5 QUESTIONS
1) How would you combat the local drug problem if elected sheriff?
I would take every tip from the public seriously and develop intel for that tip. People in our communities know who is selling drugs. I will use this information and assign a deputy to investigate it.
I will also hold monthly meetings with my deputies to share new information and compare intel between all of them. We will arrest anyone selling drugs on all levels --from the "big guy" to the addict who sells to support their habit. I will endorse rehab for any addict who wishes to clean up and better themselves.
I will continue to work with our kids to provide drug education resources and will also apply for a grant to hire a newly trained DARE officer. Drug dealers should be on alert. If you're selling poison to our kids and the citizens of Randolph County, we are coming after you!
2) Do you feel the sheriff's office has enough deputies, and are enough road patrols being conducted?
I feel the deputies' case load is pretty high right now as crime has increased over the past several years. I have a plan to provide temporary 24-hour county coverage without additional manpower or tax dollars. Eventually, I would like to provide permanent 24-hour protection to Randolph County citizens as money becomes available. Looking ahead, I would ultimately like to see a 20-deputy law enforcement division in the sheriff's office.
I will assign a deputy to every school in Randolph County. No extra taxpayer money will be required. Deputies will be required to stop by their assigned schools two times per month. They will talk with the principals, teachers, and children in order to develop good working relationships.
I will promote more road patrols throughout the remote areas of the county. I will also be working on the road and taking calls as much as physically possible to help relieve the manpower shortage. I will work with my deputies "elbow to elbow."
3) What changes do you think need to be made in the sheriff's office?
I would like to provide personnel with the option of one more level of force before lethal force would be applied by purchasing tasers for the deputies and court security officers.
Also, I would repair or replace the county's two-way radios (in the cruisers) and the portable radios our officers carry. The radios they have now work poorly -- and sometimes not at all. When critical situations occur, equipment failure could be a safety issue for the deputies and, in some cases, the public.
Further, I would bring the department into the 21st century with regard to computer and internet technology. I would apply for grant funds and other options to purchase a new drone with FLIR infrared imaging technology to assist with critical incidents and missing person situations. I would also pursue military surplus equipment for department use to save taxpayers' dollars.
4) Do you feel the county should have a K-9 unit?
I do believe the sheriff's office needs a drug dog. I would go after a dual-purpose dog so it could be used for tracking, as well as drug detection. I have contacted a dog training company to discuss options for the sheriff's office and have a plan to acquire a drug dog at no cost to our citizens.
I believe a drug dog would enhance my aggressive stance against drug trafficking in Randolph County. I would interview current deputies on the force and find the most interested and qualified candidate to train with the dog.
5) Beyond the drug problem, what do you think is the biggest crime issue facing Randolph County?
If I'm elected sheriff, all crime will be aggressively investigated.
Theft, breaking and entering, and burglaries into dwellings and homes are major issues in Randolph County. I feel the majority of theft and B&E problems are driven by drug addiction and addicts' need for quick money. People work hard for their property and it's not right for some thief to take it away. I will focus more effort on these property crimes and getting stolen property back to its rightful owners.
Another issue is church break-ins. I will definitely give special attention to any church that has been targeted by thieves -- or by threats.
Sexual assault on county children and child pornography are also crimes I would give extra attention to, if elected sheriff. Children are our future and we need to protect them as much as possible.
John Miller
I am John Miller, a Republican candidate for Randolph County Sheriff.
I am extremely concerned with the current situation of our county and believe that a change is overdue. Our county is plagued with a drug epidemic that is affecting our daily lives, as well as the safety of our community and children. Swift and thorough actions are needed to keep our citizens and streets safe for us all.
I have strong bonds within our community and am ready and able to work with local and state law enforcement, public officials and members of our communities toward a safer, drug-free Randolph County. My education, commitment and irrefutable experience gives me all the tools needed to combat the issues at hand.
I served for 26 years in the U.S. Army where I retired as a sergeant first class. I am a Vietnam Era vet and a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. I was in command of multiple individuals throughout my military career and served as a drill sergeant.
I also have 20 years in the Department of Corrections as a lieutenant, 10 of which I served as a K-9 officer, and special deputy to the State Police. I worked extensively with law enforcement across the state.
I volunteer with the U.S. Department of Defense to oversee statewide programs and fill the role of advocate and mediator to protect the rights of our active guard and reserves service members, as well as the companies that employ them.
I work alongside my wife who owns a small business here in Elkins. I have supervised more than 225 employees at one time, assisted in financial management of the company and served as an advocate to our aged and disabled population, as well as our employees and their families.
I am a certified court mediator for the state of West Virginia, a lifetime member of the following organizations: American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Association, National Rifle Association among many more. I have served on the board of Randolph County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Commission and work as a volunteer with many other nonprofit organizations in our state. I am also an alumni at our very own Davis & Elkins College where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.
I have been married for 47 years, have four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
I have dedicated my life to serving others and look forward to working with you as sheriff of Randolph County.
5 QUESTIONS
1) How would you combat the drug problem if you were elected sheriff?
There is no simple answer to this question. Combating the drug problem is going to take time and coordinated efforts involving the sheriff's department, city and state police, magistrates, judges and citizens of our county. I would begin by apprehending and arresting all individuals and groups involved in the illegal drug activity. Our magistrates need to hand down more severe consequences to these offenders. Also, our county needs to have access to more treatment options, not only for the offenders, but for their families as well. Incarcerating these individuals is only a temporary fix. We have repeat offenders in our area and without receiving drug rehabilitation while incarcerated and proper support upon release, this frequent cycle of arrests and imprisonment becomes costly and inefficient. There needs to be a strong link between the judges, prosecutors, treatment specialists, probation officers, law enforcement and corrections to ensure these individuals get the help they need to make a long-term recovery and break the cycle.
2) Do you feel the sheriff's office has enough deputies and enough road patrols being conducted?
No, we do not have enough deputies and road patrols. The more remote areas of our county are being neglected as it is taking longer than acceptable to respond to calls in areas such as Harman, Mill Creek, Helvetia, Cassity and other outlying areas. Considering the size of our county, it is important that we make adding more deputies an immediate priority. We need more manpower so that we can safety and efficiently conduct 24-hour road patrols and still have deputies ready and available to serve the entirety of our county. Scheduling needs to be carefully evaluated as well to ensure we have a continuous presence, especially in the high crime areas of our county.
3) What changes do you think needs to be made in the sheriff's office?
To answer this question effectively, I would have to be in the office to see firsthand how things are currently being handled and assess what changes need to be made. As of right now, I believe the sheriff's office should be more transparent regarding policy, law and procedures. There should also be more of an open-door policy. Citizens of our county should feel free to enter the office and speak with any of the staff on duty. Improved interactions between law enforcement and the public is one of my goals. There is work to be done within our communities, and a focus on strengthening bonds and establishing trust is key.
4) Do you feel the county should have a K-9 unit?
I feel that our county needs a K-9 unit. K-9 units ensure officer safety as each canine is specifically trained to assist and protect their handler. The canines can aid in apprehending suspects and searching for drugs. I was a K-9 officer and trainer for 10 years while working in corrections, and I have seen firsthand how these canine partners can be beneficial in the field.
5) Beyond the drug problem, what do you think is the biggest crime issue facing Randolph County?
We have a lot of issues with breaking and entering and theft in Randolph County. Both crimes can be directly related to the drug problem in our area. I an confident that if we can get the drug problem under control, we will begin to see an immediate decrease in other crimes such as burglary and larceny. The other issues plaguing our county is the ever-growing homeless population and domestic situations.
Jack Roy
Jack D. Roy Jr., a lifelong resident of Randolph County, is a Democratic candidate for Randolph County Sheriff.
He is a veteran of the United States Navy during the Vietnam War era. During this period, he served as an aircrew member aboard various types of military aircraft and was honorably discharged in 1972.
Soon after his discharge from military service, he began a career with the City of Elkins Police Department and honorably retired from that department with a total of more than 24 years of service after achieving the rank of lieutenant.
He is a 1985 graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy Basic Program and voted "Outstanding Officer" of the 55th Basic Class. He is also a graduate of the West Virginia Department of Corrections Academy and numerous small/rural law-enforcement department specialty, supervisory and management schools and seminars. Some responsibilities included writing and managing grants obtained through the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services and COPS.
Throughout his career he made presentations in schools, civic organizations and communities on topics including drug and alcohol awareness and abuse, crime prevention/safety awareness and domestic violence.
Upon his retirement from the Elkins Police Department, he successfully ran for the office of Randolph County Sheriff and served in that capacity for two consecutive terms, beginning on Jan. 1, 2006 trough Dec. 31, 2012. During these two terms, he wrote, received and managed state and federal grants that enabled the sheriff's office to obtain specialized equipment that enhanced the operational capabilities of the office that would not have been financially obtainable through normal budgetary process. During his terms of office, and by maintaining proper fiscal responsibility, the sheriff's office operated with and maintained a balanced budget wile increasing operational capabilities.
Roy said that, if elected, he would again commit to a solid working relationship with the Randolph County Commission. This relationship would lead to the submission and approval of sound operational budgets and management of the office kept within the approved budgets guidelines, also stating, grant applications would be thoroughly discussed with the commissioners and priorities would be established by what grant projects would be most beneficial to all county residents.
He stated he will work to establish and maintain an open line of communication with the citizens of Randolph County by making himself available to civic organizations, schools and drug awareness, crime prevention and awareness and public safety. This would enable citizens to keep updated on resources available to their communities and to keep them apprised as to what activities the sheriff's office is taking to combat citizen concerns throughout the county.
He also stated, "With experience, dedication and having no personal or other business affiliations that could detract from the commitment required to manage the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, I have the proven fiscal and ethical responsibility needed to properly manage the sheriff's office."
Roy is the son of the late Pearl Lucinda Rankin Roy and Dempsey J. Roy of Elkins. He is married to the former Teresa Ann "Terry" Ferris of Huntington and is the father of four children, Cindy Cross of Philippi, Shara Roy of Columbus, Ohio and J.D. Roy III and Jacqueline "Jackie" Roy of Elkins.
5 QUESTIONS
1) How would you combat the local drug problem if elected?
The local drug problem would be combated through a multi-faceted approach by maintaining a good working relationship with all agencies (state, local and federal), continued interdiction, updated education and training for deputies and awareness for the public. Maintaining an open dialogue with the public would be of utmost importance because they are the eyes and ears for good and proper law enforcement. Keeping an active presence in the drug task force would be essential for good interdiction by the exchange of information and joint participation between all agencies.
2) Do you feel the sheriff's office has enough deputies. and are enough road patrols being conducted?
With the size of Randolph County it would be great to have more deputies to provide more coverage and road patrols. Additional deputies would also provide better coverage during times of annual and sick leave, military leave, etc. It is very difficult to increase the amount of deputies due to budget restraints and limited tax bases. To achieve the possibility to increase the number of deputies and road patrols would or could only be attained through a good working relationship with the public, county commission and sound fiscal management within the sheriff's office.
3) What changes do you think should be made in the sheriff's office:
Any changes could only be determined by careful assessment of operational policy and procedures once in office. Any changes would have to be determined by necessity and budget limitations.
4) Do you feel the county should have a K-9 unit?
I would like to see the sheriff's office have an efficient and operational passive K-9 unit for drug interdiction, however properly maintaining this unit would have to be thoroughly researched for cost involved with the initial start up and continued training of the unit, up-keep, overtime and on-going purchases of essential equipment. Effectiveness would be discussed with like agencies that now have a unit and those that have previously had one and reasons for discontinuing their units.
5) Beyond the drug problem, what do you think is the biggest crime issues facing Randolph County?
The drug problem is responsible for and leads to many related crimes throughout our county including larcenies, assaults, etc. I feel that one of the biggest crime issues, that is also many times associated with drug or alcohol abuse, is domestic violence. It is a much hidden crime that is one of the most dangerous for law enforcement and one that, in many cases, goes unreported due to fear and embarrassment by the victims and their families.
Jim Webley
I am Jeffrey "Jim" Webley and I am a Democratic candidate for Sheriff of Randolph County.
I would like to tell you a little about myself. I've lived in Randolph County all of my life, I was born and raised here. I have been married to my wife, Roxanne Shifflett Webley, for 44 years and we have two grown children; one son, Jared, and a daughter, Tara. We also have one granddaughter, Lily. I worked for the Randolph County Sheriff's Department for 16 years, five of those years I acted as Chief Deputy Sheriff, I worked for the United States Marshall Service for six years, and I have been employed as an investigator for the past 23 years for the Kroger Company. While employed with the Sheriff's department I had the opportunity to work under 3 different Sheriff's in that time; Phil Ware, John Arbogast, and Willard Herron. I attended the West Virginia State Police Academy in Charleston and many law enforcement classes while with the Sheriff's department. I attended the Federal Law enforcement training center in Glen County, Georgia, For the last 23 years I've had the opportunity to work with many law enforcement agencies across WV, Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina. I've created working relationships with most of the surrounding counties law enforcement agencies, such as, Clarksburg PD, Morgantown PD, Charleston PD, Bridgeport PD, the West Virginia State Police, and I even had the opportunity to work a case with the Secret Service this month. I've worked with several law enforcement programs across our great state like the Organized Retail Crime and the Narcotics Task Force in Harrison County. Some may think I have been out of the loop of law enforcement for the past 23 years, but I have not. My job as an investigator gave me the opportunity to work with most of the police departments in our state and surrounding states.
Now as for why I want to run for Sheriff...I have lived here all my life and want to work with the citizens of our county to make the community safer for our children. I want to focus mainly on the drug epidemic. Most families in our community have been effected by the drug epidemic, including myself. I have watched drugs turn my loved one into someone I no longer know and I can no longer stand by and watch other families suffer the pain that I have. I want to be part of the solution. Our community is suffering on many levels because of the drug use; our businesses are shorthanded, our teachers are overwhelmed in the classroom, our police officers are put in danger daily, and our local DHHR and foster care systems are overwhelmed with children being neglected because of drug use. We have a lot of great officers and law enforcement agencies in our area and we have to work together with the community if we are going to make this a safer place for our children. We live in one of the most beautiful counties in our state and we need to make this an area people want to visit, an area where people want to raise their families.
As Sheriff I will also be the treasurer of the county. I will collect and maintain the taxes paid by our residents. I am an honest man, I am a fair man, and you can trust me to take an oath to uphold all laws and take my office very serious. I love our county and I want what is best for our county. I can't promise to fix all the problems or issues, but I assure you I will work hard to do all I can to make our county safer and more productive. And I would appreciate your vote on June 9.
5 QUESTIONS
1) How would you combat the local drug problem if elected sheriff?
I want to commit to keeping people on the Drug Task Force that was created and ask for the community and schools to be more involved in that force. This will be a community effort, the Sheriff alone cannot fix this issue. Over the last 23 years working as an investigator myself, I have worked with several Drug Task Forces across the state and they are effective if we work as a community. We need communication between all law enforcement agencies and the community so we can work to create effective programs that assist in stopping the drug use/traffic; programs such as Knock & Talk have been effective in some communities to combat the drug issue. We knock on doors and talk to citizens about any suspicions they have or concerns in their community. The citizens in an area are going to be the best way to become informed because it is a small town and they know what goes on. We need to look into how other areas are combating the drug issue and programs they are using that are effective. We need to shake things up and figure out what works best for our community and how we can take control of the issue before it becomes an issue we cannot fix. We have to fix this immediately if we are going to save our town and our children from the epidemic we are facing.
2) Do you feel the Sheriff's office has enough deputies, and are enough road patrols being conducted?
We could use more deputies; the funding for two more deputies will hopefully be put in place. I am hopeful that by the time I take office, we will have 15 deputies patrolling our county. I will need to work with the County Commissioners to see what funds are available and how much the taxpayers can afford. A main focus will be to maintain an efficient budget, so I would need to look at those numbers once in office. We are unsure what the future holds for our budget numbers since we are experiencing a pandemic and maintaining the budget will be my top priority. We need to identify what our needs are and then focus on writing grants for the needed funds. As for road patrols, there are more patrols being done in the county than ever before and I want to continue that. I would like to identify "problem areas" with the help of our citizens and see where more patrols need to be done. I want to work with the community to identify areas that may be overlooked.
3) What changes do you think need to be made in the Sheriff's department?
There will probably be major changes in the Sheriff's department since we are experiencing a pandemic. My two main focus areas will be addressing the drug epidemic and maintaining an efficient budget plan. I would like to work to make sure the deputies have the equipment and training they need and make sure we are keeping up with the ever-changing technology and modern equipment, so I would like to work to get new grants in place. I know the pandemic could put a strain on our budget numbers, so we need to identify grants to cover that funding. I would like to look into creating an Outpost for a few of the officers to better serve the citizens of our county. We are a very large, rural county and I feel it would benefit the citizens to have deputies spread out and be able to better serve others that are not so close to Elkins. An outpost office would also have an existing employee work as a tax deputy to collect taxes and save a trip to the courthouse; even if the existing employee only worked a day or two a week in that office. I would also like to have an officer solely focused on being an investigator; an officer that would follow up with the breaking and entering's and not have to leave to work a car accident. But the budget will more than likely dictate any changes made because a main focus will be managing the money properly and spending the funds efficiently.
4) Do you feel the county should have a K-9 unit?
That would be something I would love for the county to have, but I would need to look into after taking office. Having a K-9 Unit would be a major asset to the department, but there are a lot of factors that go into making that decision. A K-9 unit is only as good as it's handler, so we would need to identify an officer that would be dedicated to investing the time and work needed. I would like to say "yes", we should have a K-9 unit because they are a very valuable tool, but I would also need to look into budget numbers and make sure the money is being spent efficiently. I know the taxpayers want their money spent appropriately and effectively and that will be a major deciding factor on having a K-9 unit.
5) Beyond the drug problem, what do you think is the biggest crime issue facing Randolph County?
One of the biggest crimes facing our area is breaking and entering's; the rise in break-ins to support the drug habit. This is another reason I would like to work to find funding for a deputy to solely work as an investigator. If we focus on solving some of the break-ins, it will lead us directly to some of the drug use and traffic. If we can identify some of those suspects, it will help us combat the drug issue. In most cases, a break-in is directly related to drug use. I know we have other issues facing our county as well, such as homelessness, child abuse/neglect, and our businesses are struggling to stay afloat, and we need to work on the drug issue to impact the other issues. If we work together as a community, we can make progress in all of these areas. It may be slow progress, but when we work to fix the drug epidemic, the other issues will continue to improve. A business should not have to close because it does not have sober employees. A child should not be in a home exposed to abuse and neglect because the parent is addicted. We should not see homeless people staying under a bridge because their addiction was funded before the mortgage.