Former Wood County Sheriff Ken Merritt dies at 81
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PARKERSBURG -- Former Wood County Sheriff Ken Merritt died Tuesday afternoon at age 81.
Williamstown Police Chief Shawn Graham, a former chief sheriff's deputy, confirmed the former sheriff's death.
Graham said Merritt's family said he died at the Carehaven nursing home in Belmont, Pleasants County.
"He passed away after a recent and quick decline in his health," Graham said. "He passed away surrounded by family."
Merritt, a native of Purgitsville in Hampshire County, served four terms as sheriff and one term as a Wood County commissioner. He was elected to his first term in 1992 and reelected in 1996.
After serving the maximum of two consecutive terms as sheriff as allowed by West Virginia law, he ran for and won a seat on the Wood County Commission.
Merritt left the commission seat in 2004 and was reelected sheriff. He lost the 2008 election but was elected to his fourth term in 2012. A bid for a fifth term in 2016 was not successful.
Before becoming sheriff he was a West Virginia Division of Natural Resources conservation officer after serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Graham said Merritt was a law enforcement legend.
"I can honestly say Ken was the most influential law enforcement leader in my career," he said. "He was the first one who gave me a shot as detective, the first one to put me in charge of the detective bureau and offered me the chief deputy job."
Graham said Merritt could be described as compassionate, especially to children, and a dedicated sheriff.
"We really lost a law enforcement legend in Wood County," he said. "In his career he served his country, state and county.
"He was one of the last old school guys and one of my best friends."
Current Sheriff Steve Stephens said Merritt will be missed.
"Ken was a legend for law enforcement not only in Wood County but in West Virginia," he said. "He was a conservation officer for many years and was well-known all over West Virginia."
Stephens was director of home confinement operations in Merritt's last term.
"He was a very kind and God-fearing man who loved his family and profession very much," he said. "He very much loved being sheriff."
Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin said he served with Merritt for the last 20 years.
"My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his wife," he said. "I've had the pleasure to work in some capacity with Sheriff Merritt for the last 20 years, as sheriff or county commissioner. I appreciate his dedication to Wood County.
"His family will be in our thoughts and prayers."
(Staff writer Evan Bevins contributed to this story.)