My name is Frank Priddy and I am running as a candidate for Raleigh County Sheriff, 2024. Having a law enforcement career spanning over 2 decades. I have has served as an investigator for the Beckley Police Department, a member of the US Marshall’s Cuffed Task Force, and, as a graduate of the National Fire Academy, a Fire Investigator for the City of Beckley.
I have specialized in many areas including homicide investigation, burglaries, elder abuse, white collar crimes, sex crimes, crimes involving children, drugs, and other violent crimes.
I am one of the top investigating officers presenting criminal indictments for 20 years. I served as Patrol Supervisor and spent over 17 years of his career as a supervisor in the Beckley Police Department Investigative Unit.
I am the only officer in this race who has received awards from federal, state, and local public safety offices, as well as one of few police investigators to receive awards from the FBI, State of WV, and the City of Beckley. I have received numerous Highway Safety and Crime Stopper awards and was also honored as top Investigator of the Year. I was awarded by the City of Beckley to lead the Presidential Motorcade for President George Bush upon his visit to Beckley in 2004. I am the only candidate in this race who has been a boots on the ground shift supervisor, leading men from call to call, as well as also a supervisor in the detective investigative unit.
I am the only one who has working experience in both. I was employed with the Raleigh County Board of Education for protection of the teachers, staff, and students as a police officer during the alternative school program for nearly 20 years. I also worked at Raleigh General Hospital as a police officer for protection of staff and patients and doing investigations for the hospital. I am om the Crescent Elementary School Local School Improvement Council, working together with the community for better and safer schools.
I served on the review board for employment for Beckley City Police Department, doing background investigations for both the police department and Beckley Fire Department. I served as a member of the Arson Investigators of America and as an elected member of the City of Beckley Pension Board. I currently serve as a board member of Crime Stoppers of WV, the West Virginia Work Release Program, and as a member of the Beckley Rotary Club.
I am originally from Crab Orchard, WV and have resided in Beckley for over 20 years.
I am a graduate of WWHS class of 1985 and attended Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, SC. Prior to law enforcement, I worked for my father, Larry Priddy, at our family-owned business, Priddy’s Inc. Building Manufacturer and Ace Hardware, storage containers and mini storage with locations in Sophia, Crab Orchard, and MacArthur. My duties included sales management, customer service, and financing.
I am a lifelong member of Calvary Assembly of God in Beckley and hold strong Christian values and beliefs. I am 100 % pro- life and pro- gun. I am a member of the National Rifle Association. Me and my beautiful wife Angela have been married for over 24 years and share 4 children. Angela has been a registered nurse for over 26 years, serving the local community of Raleigh County.
Raleigh County is not only my home, but also the home to my family, children, and many friends. I have seen the problems that Raleigh County face become increasingly worse. These include the obvious pan-handling situation, vagrants, the ongoing drug epidemic and high crime rate. There is a large amount of unsolved murder cases within Raleigh County, as well as lack of progress towards criminal cases.
I feel with my experience and expertise in solving felony cases and presenting grand jury indictments, I can help make a change and a difference to fight crime for the citizens of Raleigh County. I also want to protect our children and be proactive with education about the consequences of drug abuse. I will reinstate the DARE program in our schools. I would like to provide guidance and motivation to fellow officers within the department to make Raleigh County a better place to work, live, and raise a family.
My plan is simple. More officers out of the office and onto the streets. More rural areas, like Colcord, Rock Creek, Naoma “the river area “ of Raleigh County, will have full police service and a officer stationed there from the beginning of my term if I become your Sheriff. The panhandler situation must be delt with and it will be done under my election as Sheriff.
I will reinstate the newly revised DARE program within our schools, public and private. We will fill the vacancies of deputy sheriffs and do that immediately. We will recruit police officers and fill the positions with good quality people. We will have a fully working case-solving Detective Bureau, working ALL felony cases in the county. We will reopen all unsolved murders that has been pushed to the side, this will be a top priority. There will not be any unnecessary delays in obtaining concealed weapons permits. We will respond to ALL 911 calls, and we will be more active in the community. I will be active through-out the county and work with community leaders and churches to solve problems. We will be 100% more pro-active in working drug cases and making arrests. I will be working hand in hand with the Raleigh County Prosecutors office to fight crime. I will have an open-door policy and will be open and willing to talk to anyone who need to see me.
