CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – There will soon be a new Kanawha County sheriff in town.

The two candidates include Deputy Chief Joe Crawford and retired captain Sean Crosier.

Crawford has served as Chief Deputy at the Sheriff’s Office since 2021. If elected, he hopes to continue upgrading equipment for the department and to give deputies the tools and training they need to protect themselves, and the public.

“Make sure our men and women who are out there every day, every night have the tools, the resources, technology, and equipment to do their job better and be more professional and deliver product to the citizens they deserve,” Crawford said.

Crawford adds that this will improve recruitment and retention within the department. He has also previously served as chief of St. Albans, Elenaor, and Yeager Airport police departments.

Crosier retired from the Sheriff’s office nine years ago and has been working as a polygraph examiner for more than two decades. He spent 27 years at the department before retiring as captain and also served as Sheriff of Monroe County.

If elected, he wants to create a cold case unit to investigate the many unsolved murders in the county. That includes the murder of former West Virginia House of Delegates employee, and personal friend, Eddie Belcher.

“We know who did it. We know who was involved in it. It’s putting together that evidence to put together a conviction,” Crosier said.

Crosier also wants to launch a program to combat drug abuse targeting local schools, and an initiative to rebuild trust in law enforcement.

“We have to gain the trust back. Nobody trusts the police right now. They haven’t for years. A lot of that is because they don’t know who the police are. We’re going to re-engage with them on a one-on-one basis with citizens,” Crosier said.

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The winner will replace incumbent Sheriff Mike Rutherford.

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