Published: November 16, 2008 02:32 am      

‘I’m going to miss law enforcement’

Junior Slaughter to soon retire from position as sheriff

FAIRMONT — A lot has changed for local law enforcement since the mid-1950s, when officers used to walk a beat and portable radios were non-existent.

Since that time, police departments have become a high-tech division of the justice department.

However, one thing has not changed in that half-century — Junior Slaughter is still working to keep Marion Countians safe.

Slaughter began his career in law enforcement in 1955. At the end of this year, he will retire from his position as sheriff.

His days as a policeman began in the Fairmont City Police Department. He had been working at the No. 63 mine in Monongah since he had gotten out of the U.S. Navy in 1947. However, he had read in the paper that the Civil Service test was being offered, and he decided to make a career change.

“I took the exam, and I passed it,” Slaughter said while sitting behind his desk, a desk he has occupied for a total of four terms. “So I was hired as a patrolman.”

He said he was not nervous when he began working for the city’s department. However, he did add that it was strange to be back in uniform again after leaving the Navy. Slaughter began his long tenure with the Fairmont department under the tutelage of then Police Chief Carl Cain.

“He was a great guy,” Slaughter said. “He would take his time, especially with the rookies, and assist and guide us in any way possible.”

According to Slaughter, Fairmont was a booming city in the 1950s. Businesses thrived across the city, and bars lined Madison and Merchant streets. These bars often kept the officers busy.

Police officers walked their beats at that time. And communications had not evolved to what officers have at their disposal today, he added.

According to Slaughter, a white light bulb sit on top of the stoplight at the intersection of Jefferson and Adams streets. Officers would often glance up at the light to see if it was flashing. If it was flashing, then the officers knew to call the police station located on Monroe Street.

However, this was long before portable radios and cell phones. So officers had to call the station from a local business or from a pay phone. But these were also times when people were familiar with the officers who walked the beat in their area. Operators were also needed to connect all calls.

“So you would go to the pay phone, put your money in and the operator would come on the line,” Slaughter said. “You would tell them you badge number, and they’d put you through to the station.

“And then your money would come back from the phone,” he added with a smile.

However, Slaughter acknowledged that not having radios made it difficult to call for backup when trouble arose. He went on to say that officers had to be physically capable of handling situations. But Slaughter also pointed out that citizens would often call in to the station to let other police know when an officer was in trouble. Citizens would also offer a helping hand on occasions.

“Fairmont really was the Friendly City,” Slaughter said.

He stayed with the city police until 1981. During that time, he moved up through the ranks, starting as a patrolman, moving on to become a detective, and finally finishing his tenure with the city as a lieutenant.

Slaughter pointed out that although Fairmont was not a crime-ridden city, trouble often did pop up. Drugs began to come into the area, and they brought a whole host of problems along with them.

“You had about anything that happens in Fairmont that happens in a large city, but you just didn’t have as much of it,” Slaughter said.

After leaving the city police, he became chief deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. He served in this position from 1981 to 1987. As chief deputy, Slaughter was in charge of the law-enforcement division, underneath the sheriff.

While chief deputy, Slaughter helped to make improvements within the division. He brought the sheriff’s department up to date and started an accurate record-keeping system. He also started building up investigation equipment, such as fingerprinting kits.

In 1987, Slaughter decided it was time to run for sheriff. He faced off against five other Democrats in the primary election. One of his opponents was the president of the county commission whom had appointed himself to the sheriff’s post after the previous occupant had resigned. He also faced a magistrate.

“These were people who had been very active in local politics,” Slaughter said. “I hadn’t.”

However, Slaughter’s lack of experience in politics did not deter the massive amounts of voters who turned out in his support. And when the primary election results were counted, he received more votes than all of the other Democrat candidates combined.

“After I received that kind of support from the people of Marion County, I was probably walking on air for a week,” he said.

Slaughter also served as a magistrate before being again elected as sheriff in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004.

As sheriff, Slaughter continued what he had begun as chief deputy, to make improvements to the department. He worked to make the department more professional.

“I helped to bring the sheriff’s department into the 21st century,” he said.

Other changes were also coming about. Law-enforcement personnel were now required to take a 16-week training course offered by the West Virginia State Police. In-service training was also being offered. The days of hiring someone, placing a gun on their hip and sending them out to make arrests had ended, Slaughter said.

“We’d come a long way from that flashing white bulb on top of the stoplight,” he said.

Slaughter said that he believes he is leaving the department in excellent condition. He added that he believed the department was also manned by excellent officers.

“I’d put them up against any other department in the state,” he said.

At the first of the new year, Slaughter will pass the reins on to Sheriff-elect Joe Carpenter, an officer who served under Slaughter for a time. Slaughter said he wanted to praise Carpenter for all of his work.

“I know he’ll do a good job,” Slaughter said. “Joe’s a good man.”

Slaughter said he would like to impart some of the wisdom he has gained over the years onto the young men who are currently serving as police officers and those who wish to in the future. He said that officers should always strive to improve themselves and take advantage of all the in-service training they can.

“I’ve taken all kinds of classes and gone to all kinds of seminars,” he said. “And I’ve learned something new at everyone of them.”

Although Slaughter will be retiring, the lifelong Marion County resident plans on remaining in the area. He said he plans on spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also plans on staying active with the Democratic Men’s Club, an organization he founded.

“But I’m going to miss law enforcement,” he said. “But their comes a time when you just want to settle down.”

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.