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Board takes oath as Parkersburg Police chief

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board, second from left, recites the oath of office alongside, from left, Mayor Tom Joyce, Board’s father and former Police Chief Gerald Board, son Conor, wife Haley and mother Rita on Friday in City Council chambers. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — While his childhood friends followed the careers of baseball stars like Kirby Puckett and Ken Griffey Jr., Matthew Board looked up to folks a little closer to home.

“I could name Parkersburg policemen; they were like superheroes to me,” he said.

His father, Gerald, and sister, Leslie, were members of the department, which helped the younger Board develop a very specific career goal.

“I always wanted to be a Parkersburg policeman, not just a policeman but a Parkersburg policeman, just like my father and my sister,” he said.

Board achieved that goal in August 2002 and has continued serving in and moving up the ranks of the department.

Interim Parkersburg Police Chief Scott Elliott pins the eagle brass denoting the rank of chief on the collar of Matthew Board after Board was sworn in as the city’s next police chief Friday in City Council chambers as Board’s father, Gerald, a former chief himself, watches. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

On Friday, the 38-year-old Parkersburg resident was sworn in as the department’s newest chief, a position his father also held during his 32-year career.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Board, who was confirmed earlier this week by Parkersburg City Council after Mayor Tom Joyce picked him from among three in-house finalists. “(I’m) humbled that God’s given me the opportunity to serve my community and my family.

“This is not just a job to me. I feel this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

As he was at his confirmation, Board was surrounded by family when he took the oath of office Friday in City Council chambers. His father held the Bible.

Board said he doesn’t consider it intimidating to follow in his father’s footsteps, but acknowledged “it comes with a high degree of responsibility.” He said he knows he can ask his father for advice about the job or other matters.

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board, center, speaks after taking the oath of office Friday in City Council chambers. With him are, from left, Interim Chief Scott Elliott, Mayor Tom Joyce, Board’s father Gerald and Board’s son Conor. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“Even before I was a policeman, he was just a pillar of good judgment I could lean upon,” he said.

Becoming chief wasn’t a goal of Board’s when he joined the department, but as he took on more supervisory roles, his interest grew.

Being involved with the community has been important to Board throughout his career and he doesn’t intend for that to change as chief.

Police recruiting and retention has been a major focus for retired Chief Joe Martin and other city officials in recent years. Board said he thinks progress has been made with financial incentives approved by City Council.

“I look to build on that,” he said. “I would like to see us get to full staff very, very soon if at all possible.”

The department has 67 officers and is budgeted for 74.

A number of current and former police officers, city officials, friends and other local leaders gathered to watch Board being sworn in. Afterward, he addressed the group briefly, saying he would need their help to succeed.

“Without the support of you all, I would be inefficient,” he said.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said he looks forward to working with Board.

“I think the City of Parkersburg got an outstanding person to fill the role of chief,” he said.

City Council Vice President Sharon Kuhl has known Board most of his life. She and her husband, retired Parkersburg Police Officer and now Wood County Magistrate Joe Kuhl taught him in Sunday school from the fourth through sixth grade.

“He’s going to do a great job,” she said. “(I’m) very proud of the young man.”

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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