ST. ALBANS, W. Va. — For the first time in 20 years, the city of St. Albans has a female on the police force.
Sheila Moore was sworn in at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. She's just the second female officer in the history of the St. Albans Police Department. She's served for the last six years as a reserve officer, an unpaid position.
"She has shown she has a commitment to St. Albans," said Police Chief Brent Coates. "I don't know about you, but I wouldn't do it for free. But she has and she wants to be here."
Coates noted that Moore grew up in St. Albans and knows the area.
"Right off the bat she knows the city, she knows the community she knows the people in the community – the good and bad. And I think that's an asset for her," he said.
Moore officially starts July 11, and will attend the State Police Academy in Institute, followed by 14 weeks of field training in the city where she'll work with a veteran officer.
Coates said having Moore on the force may help in certain situations, including domestic violence and juvenile cases. He said a female officer may have a more calming effect than a male officer.
In other news, the city passed a resolution for a $3,500 Community Participation Grant for the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.
The money will be used to make repairs to the facility and purchase equipment. Any leftover funds will be used to buy a van.
