It was nearly eight years ago, on Dec. 29, 2016, to be exact, that Bridgeport’s Robert Matheny was standing in the courtroom of Harrison County Circuit Court Judge John Lewis Marks.

 

Being a lifelong member of law enforcement, being in a court room where he would often be in front of a judge was not unusual. This day, however, was different.

 

Matheny was not present for criminal proceedings. Instead, he was taking the oath from Harrison County Clerk Susan Thomas to serve as the Sheriff of Harrison County. It would be the first of two four-year terms – the maximum allowed – in which Matheny would serve.

 

Shortly, on the cusp of Jan. 1, 2025, to be exact, the run is over. He will put a bow on a roughly 40-year career (39 years was in August) serving the public.

 

“I’ve been in law enforcement since 1985, and I started as a first responder with the Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department in 1981,” Matheny, a 1983 graduate of Bridgeport High School, said. “For my entire adult life, and even prior to that, this is what I’ve done.”

 

For Matheny, who became certified in law enforcement in 1987, the genesis of wanting to protect and serve does not expand from a family tree. It does have its roots firmly in the Bridgeport community.

 

“As a child, I had a curiosity about law enforcement because I admired Bridgeport’s Police Chief John Diamond and the police officer Bill Allender when I was wee little guy,” said Matheny. “The turning point for my career came because I had an accident at my house and Chief Diamond and Officer Allender responded.”

 

Matheny got cut on the storm door at his house and the two city lawmen were on hand to make sure everything was okay. While tending to the youngster, Matheny was mesmerized by their appearance.

 

“I was looking at their shiny shoes and their gun belts,” said Matheny. “I said, ‘one day I’m going to be like that,’ and here we are.”

 

It would be another Bridgeport Police Chief who got Matheny’s foot in the law enforcement door. Jack Clayton did the honors, but it was not by having Matheny as a member of his staff. Rather, it was in another manner.

 

Clayton put Matheny to work directing traffic near the intersection of Philadelphia Avenue and Virginia Avenue with a few others when traffic at the time was being rerouted from U.S. Route 50, or Bridgeport’s Main Street.

 

“I’m not sure what they called the position, but I directed traffic there for about a year as they worked on the bridge on Main Street by the fire department,” said Matheny. “My job was to keep traffic moving smoothly, and that was a heck of a demanding job as you can imagine.”

 

Eventually, he would get into police work. And it spiraled into a number of police arenas from there.

 

The first official gig was in 1985 as he was hired to serve on Anmoore’s Police Department. Two years later in 1987, he attended the West Virginia Police Academy and followed with a short stint working in Belington. That would be followed by another short run working for the Nutter Fort Police Department.

 

Then, in 1990, Matheny joined the Clarksburg Police Department. He would spend 20 years on the force, retiring as a lieutenant and becoming known to many in the public for his work as a detective, where he served as commander. During his time with Clarksburg, he also achieved a rarity in national law enforcement.

 

In 2008 he was invited by the FBI to attend the 234^th FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., which is a prestigious 10-week upper-rank, management training program attended by less than one percent of law enforcers across the country.

 

“It’s a rare distinction,” said Matheny. “It’s not exclusive to me and we have local officers still going, but to get invited and take part is an honor.”

 

After retiring from Clarksburg Police Department in 2010, Matheny was hired as Wheeling Police Chief. By 2013 he was on the move again and leading up to his first term as sheriff in 2016 he served as Stonewood’s Police Chief and did work for the National White Collar Crime Center.

 

“It’s been great on so many fronts; all of them,” said Matheny. “The last eight years have been an opportunity to expand things in place, create new programs, and meet goals our department set out to accomplish.

 

“I was fortunate the residents of Harrison County put me in a position to try and pursue those things,” he continued. “That doesn’t happen if you’re not surrounded by great people and a great community. It’s been a great run, and I hope the people I served with and the community we served feel the same way.”

 

Matheny said he would change some things if he could do everything again but remains satisfied with his tenure. He said when you try new things and think outside the box, you do not always find success, but you eventually will if you keep trying to do the right thing.

 

“That’s the big thing,” said Matheny. “That works in every profession.”

 

Matheny said one other thing that worked in his favor was having access to his predecessor Albert Marano, currently the Harrison County Circuit Clerk. He said Marano was available whenever needed.

 

“He was still in the courthouse and was just a phone call away, and still is,” said Matheny. “We’ve kept relationships with past sheriff’s because it is important to respect the time they gave and recognize, what I think, are the best group of sheriffs in the state.”

 

Matheny said his department, which stretches beyond deputies and into the tax division and other areas, have all met his expectations. He talked proudly of the tax division collecting $12 million in delinquent taxes that saw 62 percent go to the Harrison County School District and even end up in the general fund to help the county. In fact, he raved about every member of the staff.

 

“Everyone does good work and, people may be surprised to hear this, but I’ve had not only more good experiences as opposed to bad ones, when I get a call there are more compliments than complaints,” said Matheny, who also spoke highly of his department’s Deputy Sheriff’s Reserves. “To hear people compliment your staff in all parts of the department is rewarding.”

 

As for past sheriffs, Matheny will soon be one. He said he will be available to assist the next Harrison County Sheriff with a familiar name – Robert Matheny II.

 

“I’m ready to move on and I’m very, very proud that my son is going to succeed me,” said Matheny. “He’ll stand on his own two feet, but he also knows if he has a question or needs any type of advice or help, I’ll be there. The same holds true for any police chief or fire chief out there after my term ends. I’m still a phone call away if they need me.”

 

Sounds like a guy that may be ready to flow smoothly into the sunset of retirement. However, Matheny said he has more to give.

 

“I anticipating staying in this realm, if at all possible,” said Matheny, who has lived in Bridgeport primarily his entire life, even when he was in Wheeling and did not permanently relocate there. “I’ve got a few opportunities, but I’m not at liberty to speak about right now. All I can say for certain is I’m 60 years old, and I still have a lot to give. Serving still gives me energy.”

 

Even though he is not done, he does plan to incorporate even more energy into his family, his church, and his community.

 

“I’m big into family and heavily involved with my church and some local organizations so I know I can put more time into all of that, and I want to,” said Matheny. “On top of that, my family deserves all the time I can give them.”

 

That includes his wife Melissa, a former Bridgeport City Council member who had stood by his side during his terms as Sheriff. And it also includes time with his four sons, five granddaughters, two daughters-in-law and a daughter-in-law that will be signing up to the Matheny family team next summer.

 

“It’s sad, but it’s time. It’s time to keep my focus on family, church, and my community and still being involved in public safety,” he said.

 

After 40 years, whatever direction Matheny takes is earned. Sheriff Matheny will sign off for the final time at midnight, Dec. 31.

 

Congratulations Sheriff Matheny. Your work here is done.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Robert Matheny at a press conference, while he's shown during his time with the Anmoore Volunteer Fire Department in the second photo. In the third image, Matheny is shown with the late Tommy Thomas during his time at the Clarksburg Police Department. He is shown with his wife Melissa at the main office building parking lot on Main Street in Clarksburg. He is shown with his son, and Sheriff Elected Robert Matheny II, in the next photo. Bottom image shows Matheny, second from right, with retired Clarksburg Police Officer Russ Swiger, far left, and other law enforcement personnel during an investigation. All photos, with the exception of the top photo, courtesy of Robert Matheny.