| Grantsville will get a new State Police detachment commander on July 16, according to public information officer Jay
Powers. Gregory J. Cooke, who was just promoted to sergeant, is being sent from his turnpike assignment to Calhoun as the
new detachment commander.
Current Grantsville commander Sgt. J. L. Cooper has been transferred to Beckley where he will be assistant detachment
commander.
Other regional changes include Thomas Yanero, who has been promoted to sergeant. Yanero will go to the Marlington
detachment from Glenville, according to Grantsville detachment secretary Wilma Mace.
Sgt. D. B. Whitt will be transferred from the state police barracks in South Charleston to be the Glenville District
Commander.
Sgt. T. D. Corbitt, Ripley detachment commander, is being transferred to the detachment commander's position in Elizabeth.
Current Elizabeth commander R. C. Hollen will become an assistant detachment commander in Parkersburg.
State Police have decided on a new deputy superintendent, with the outgoing Lieutenant Colonel saying the agency is vastly
under funded, under equipped, undermanned and saddled with political outposts.
Public perception has been tainted by young officers who are "not user-friendly,''said retiring State Police Lt. Col. Carl G.
White of Glendale. White is retiring after 25 years with the agency. In the 21st Century, some are not even on the internet, he
said. The agency is "critically short of manpower."
"We are supposed to be the premier law enforcement agency in the state and we are using junk,'' he said, and
administratively operating as a "reactionary system."
White said unnecessary detachments remain open due to public and political pressure.
Capt. Dave Williams, who currently heads special operations, will be named deputy superintendent on July 16 and will hold
the rank of lieutenant colonel, replacing the retired officer.
Lt. David Skeen will be captain of Professional Standards replacing former Major Barrington Gore. Gore was apparently demoted to Captain,
as he was sent to another division after accusations of sexual harassment were made against him by three women. State Police said they did not consider it a demotion, but Gore was required to conform to the job description.
Gore was given the permanent rank of first lieutenant, previously having the permanent rank of sergeant.
An internal State
Police investigation found the complaints against Gore were without merit. The women have now filed a lawsuit against the agency, with
the head of the West Virginia Trooper's Association, a lawyer, representing them.
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