The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley The Randolph County Commision honored Sheriff Mark Brady with a retirement plaque during the commision meeting on Thursday. From left are Commissioner Mark Scott, Brady, Commissioner Chris See and Commision President David Kesling. Brady’s second term as sheriff will end on Jan. 1.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley
The Randolph County Commision honored Sheriff Mark Brady with a retirement plaque during the commision meeting on Thursday. From left are Commissioner Mark Scott, Brady, Commissioner Chris See and Commision President David Kesling. Brady’s second term as sheriff will end on Jan. 1.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission approved the hiring of a new deputy Thursday, and she will be just the second female deputy in the history of Randolph County.

The commission voted unanimously to hire Brittany Lewis as a new deputy sheriff with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department Thursday. She will begin work on Dec. 13 with an annual salary of $39,270. The job will be a full-time benefited position.

“This will be the last hire I have in my term as sheriff,” said Randolph County Sheriff Mark Brady, who is currently completing his second elected term. “Brittany is certified in the state of West Virginia as a certified law enforcement officer and has interviewed. She has taken the Randolph County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Entrance Exam and has completed the physical ability testing that is required.”

Brady, whose second term as sheriff will end on Jan. 1, said he has the utmost confidence in Lewis.

“I interviewed her and conducted all of her evaluations,” he said. “She successfully completed all of the requirements that we have put in place and I feel confident that Mrs. Lewis will do an extremely good job for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the people of Randolph County.”

Lewis will be just the second-ever female deputy sheriff in Randolph County. The first was Tammy Cook, who served as a deputy in 1993 and 1994.

“This will be the first female officer that we’ve hired in Randolph County in many years,” said Brady. “She’s going to be only the second female in the department’s existence. She completed the training at the West Virginia State Police Academy several years ago and has worked for years as a police officer in the state.”

Lewis has spent the last 13 years as an officer with the Moundsville Police Department, earning the rank of sergeant before stepping down in July.

There is one more deputy position that needs to be filled within the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, and officials said that hire will likely take place sometime in the spring.