Cumberland Times-News

Local News

February 12, 2013

Mineral: future cops take polygraphs

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

KEYSER, W.Va. — Mineral County commissioners asked Sheriff Jeremy Taylor to draft a policy stating that psychological evaluations and polygraphs will now be a part of the hiring process at the sheriff’s department.

The policy will also state the length of time the test will be valid.

“There has been issues before,” said Taylor at Tuesday’s commission meeting, adding that the tests would help to protect the county.

“There is a lot of idiots out there; you just never know. At least we can prove that (a new deputy) is fine when we started and not that we brought him into our department as a nut job,” he said.

The fee for the polygraphs would be $750 for three people and between $350 to $500 for a psychological evaluation, according to Taylor. 

“It’s not something we would do to every candidate,” said Taylor, adding that the tests would likely be for the top three candidates.

Mike Bland, county coordinator, suggested that the top four candidates be required to take the tests.

The policy will also state the required length of time before the applicant is required to retest.

The polygraph test is generally good for two years, according to Lauren Ellifritz, county clerk.

“There could be events that happen in that person’s life that would change the outcome of their psych evaluation or their polygraph exam,” said Taylor. “They could go out tomorrow and get arrested.”

Currently, the sheriff’s department does a physical fitness test, a civil service test, a background check and an interview, according to Taylor.

The civil service test for the lone deputy sheriff position will be held Saturday and 18 applicants will be taking the test.

Ellifritz, who will be administering the test, will notify the applicants about the psychological evaluation and polygraph.

The hiring process policy will be on the agenda for the next meeting for approval of the commission and once it is adopted the information will be included on future applications.

Also during the meeting, Jay Carter, general manager of the Potomac Valley Transit Authority, provided an annual report and made a budget request. The PVTA ridership is up 5 percent from the last fiscal year for the first seven months, according to Carter.

“We are down about 10 percent in miles,” said Carter.

 The PVTA is down to 18,000 miles on transportation for non-emergency medical transportation because they only travel when there are two or more riders, according to Carter. PVTA has 26 vehicles and riders are transported to and from the Mineral County Development Center/Workshop as well as Pilgrim’s Pride in Moorefield.

PVTA has also signed agreements with all five emergency management offices to provide transport if needed.

“You certainly do a tremendous job at this,” said Commission President Janice LaRue. “I know for a fact that some of these people who work at Pilgrim’s Pride would not be able to work. They can’t get there from here.”

Carter made a budget request of $2,000 for mobile radio equipment and $5,000 for operation costs.

The state is proposing to provide 50 percent of the costs of the radios, along with local participation of the counties, according to Carter.

“We have some challenges coming our way,” said Carter “Right now, the budget is 3 percent under target. We try to make the most efficient use of tax money that we can.”

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

Text Only
Local News
  • Parking attendants Parking attendants

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • BRIAN GRIM Grim: ‘I want to see things through’

    Mayor Brian Grim made it official Tuesday when he filed the required paperwork to seek a second term as mayor of Cumberland.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Canal Place authority pursuing plan to develop branding, marketing strategy

    The Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority voted Tuesday to pursue a plan of action to develop a branding and marketing strategy for the tourism hub and surrounding Canal Place Heritage Area.

    June 18, 2013

  • U.S., Taliban to start talks on ending 12-year conflict

    The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police.

    June 18, 2013

  • Commissioners postpone Southern Middle funding discussion

    The Garrett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday postponed a discussion about funding for a renovation project at Southern Middle School, pending a future meeting with school board members.

    June 18, 2013

  • DAN BONGINO Republican Bongino sets sights on 6th district U.S. House seat

    He doesn’t live in Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District. Neither does the incumbent.
    But what makes Republican Dan Bongino’s run for the 6th district U.S. House seat interesting is that unlike Democratic Rep. John Delaney, who lives just outside the district in Potomac, Bongino lives almost 40 miles away from the closest point to the district, all the way in Anne Arundel County.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • TIM MILEY W.Va. House elects Miley as new speaker

    West Virginia’s House of Delegates elected Tim Miley as its new speaker Tuesday — though only after one of his fellow Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the GOP nominee.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • N.Y. man hurt in fall from Gunter Hotel

    A 53-year-old New York man was found unconscious on Main Street late Monday after he apparently fell from the third-floor balcony area of the Gunter Hotel, according to the Frostburg Police Department.

    June 18, 2013

  • Enter here Enter here

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Keyser ordinance raises fire protection fee

    The Keyser council approved an ordinance that increases the fire protection fee during a recent council meeting. Councilman Herman Judy opposed the increase.

    June 18, 2013