A seat on the Harrison County Commission isn't the only one that will need to have a replacement. At 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Shaffer announced his resignation in a press release from his office. Here are the contents of his statement of resignation

 

"It is with mixed emotions that I announce I will be resigning the Office of Prosecuting Attorney for Harrison County, West Virginia effective Monday, February 2, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. My decision is purely personal. I will be retiring as Prosecutor in order to return to private legal practice. And I look forward to serving the public in that capacity, as I did before I became Prosecuting Attorney. I have had the pleasure of serving the citizens of Harrison County for twelve years, the equivalent of three terms of office. The job of Prosecuting Attorney, as I have approached it, demands a 24 hour per day, 365 day per year commitment. There is never any “down” time, especially in the age of the “digital commute.” It is time for another dedicated individual to take the helm of this very important quasi-judicial, Constitutional Office. It is my belief that public service, at any given position, should not be occupied by any one individual indefinitely. And I believe I have accomplished that which I promised the citizens I would accomplish when I took office on February 1, 2003.

 

I thank the citizens of our great County for that opportunity to have served them. There are many more people, too numerous to name, that have contributed to the success of the Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and a well run criminal justice system here over the past twelve years. But I would be remiss without mentioning a few. The credit for what I truly believe is the best and most effective Prosecutor’s Office in the State of West Virginia, goes directly to the Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, paralegals, and staff I have been so fortunate to have worked with over the years. They have been and are true professionals who care deeply about the role of the Prosecuting Attorney which is to seek justice.

 

As I have often said, I would not hesitate to compare the quality of these people’s work to that of any Prosecutor’s Office in the country. I have enjoyed working with many dedicated law enforcement officers through the years. Our local, state and county police officers, Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, past and present, are and have been truly dedicated to their mission. They work tirelessly, often while we are sleeping, in order to maintain order and to keep us safe, for a fraction of the pay they deserve. It has been a pleasure to work with them. I have also enjoyed the support and cooperation of every County Commissioner I have served with. They have always understood the importance of an adequately staffed and funded Prosecutor’s Office and I thank them for that. I am confident that our current County Commission will appoint a capable replacement for me who will excel and the job and exceed my efforts.