Low turnout leaves Berkeley County with nine passing candidates; commissioners signal another testing cycle

The Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Commission on June 17 reviewed results from its second open-entry test of 2026 and concluded the hiring pool remains small: 62 applications produced 32 eligible applicants, 17 candidates reported to testing, and nine candidates passed the written examination.

Deputy County Clerk and Administrative Assistant John H. Alderton presented the results and related steps. He told commissioners that two candidates did not meet minimum Physical Agility Test (PAT) standards and that, after the written exam, nine candidates were placed on the ranked-order list. Alderton said four candidates received veterans' preference points under state law and that no candidate qualified for additional points for a service-connected disability. He said score-notification letters would be provided to the chiefs and that the ranked list would be posted and emailed to candidates.

Why it matters: Berkeley County has six current vacancies in its deputy sheriff ranks. With only nine candidates passing the written exam — and only one currently West Virginia-certified law-enforcement officer among those who passed — commissioners said the county will need another recruitment cycle to build a usable hiring list.

Details of the testing cycle and follow-up actions were reviewed in the meeting packet. Alderton said materials from the written exam were mailed to the West Virginia Division of Personnel and that test results were received and validated on June 17. He reported that 15 candidates completed the written exam and that seven of 15 returned a post-test survey on the study guide. One individual who appeared at the test claimed to have submitted an application but, after review by Human Resources and the commission office, had created an account and not completed the online submission; the individual was not permitted to test.

Commission President Dale Buck said he was disappointed with turnout and outcomes. Commissioner D. Scott Wilson moved to close Issue 2026-018 (the test cycle matter); Commissioner Stephen J. Vigh seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

What happens next: Alderton recommended preparing for another open-entry test and said he would reopen the online application portal at the direction of the sheriff and chiefs. The commission recorded the results and will post the ranked-order list and notify candidates by email.

The commission adjourned at 5:38 p.m.