BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon Police Department welcomed its newest probationary officer at Thursday’s Buckhannon City Council meeting.

Buckhannon Police Chief and Mayor Robbie Skinner introduced Jacob Garrison, who city council voted to hire at a previous meeting after interviewing several Police Civil Service Commission-approved candidates late last year.

“We interviewed Mr. Garrison back before Christmas, and we liked him well enough to offer him a chance to become part of our rank-and-file,” Skinner said.

Garrison, who is replacing Patrolman C.G. Cope, will shadow BPD officers until a slot opens up for him to enroll in training at the West Virginia State Police Academy in Charleston.

Skinner administered the oath of office, and Garrison swore to faithfully uphold the constitutions of the U.S. and the State of West Virginia as well as the charter and ordinances of the City of Buckhannon to the best of his ability.

“I just appreciate the honor of serving the community,” Garrison said. “I’ve always wanted to serve in law enforcement and coming to Buckhannon and meeting with the chief and the fellow officers that fall underneath him, I fell in love with the city. I realized I’m really going to enjoy this job working for the citizens of Buckhannon.”

Garrison is a youngest of three siblings from a military family, he said.

“I just wanted to change up the family tree and change up the path for myself,” he added.

Last year, the city also hired James Fisher as a probationary police officer to replace Patrolman Josh Wilson who resigned in the spring of 2020.