by Kate Shunney
In the latest move to attract candidates to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department and retain officers already on staff, the Morgan County Commission in December approved doubling a sign-on bonus from $5,000 to $10,000. The bonus would be spread out over three years, so incoming deputies would have to stay in the department to get the full bonus.
Incoming sheriff Johnnie Walter told county officials he has hired Eric Widmyer as his Chief Deputy, and Widmyer started in that post on January 5 after being sworn in. Widmyer just retired as a major in the West Virginia State Police, most recently serving as third in command in the state.
Sheriff Walter told commissioners he must now fill two openings resulting from retirements in his department. Scott Lemon retired after 20 years of service earlier in 2024, and Capt. Tim Stapleton will retire on January 13.
“Obviously we’re not going to get another Stapleton,” Walter said of the department’s longtime esteemed investigator.
With current openings, county officials said the Sheriff’s Department’s overtime budget “is basically shot” already.
The current starting salary for the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department is $42,000 for uncertified officers and $45,000 for certified officers. Starting this coming week, new officers will be given a $10,000 sign-on bonus payable over three years.
“Something’s gotta get them in here,” said Commissioner Joel Tuttle.
