Making the jump from a road patrol uniform to a detective’s suit always requires adjustment for a police officer — in more ways than just attire. However, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department’s new chief of detectives says he is definitely ready for the new experience and will give the job everything he has. Sgt. Larry Lilly, 30, has been appointed to the position vacated by now-Chief Deputy Steve Tanner, who replaced former Chief Deputy Bill Garaffa. Garaffa retired June 30 after 30 years with the sheriff’s department. Lilly, a lifelong Raleigh County resident, has been with the sheriff’s department since December 1996. His previous roles in the department have been working evening and midnight shift in the road patrol division and a short stint in the warrant division. “Nine out of 10 times, the public has the information that solves cases,” he said. “I would like to work with the public on our cases. “I intend to give this job everything I’ve got and do the best job I can for the public.” So far, Lilly said his biggest challenges have been adjusting to the different functions of the detective bureau vs. road patrol and the administrative duties of his position. However, he has been fortunate to have Detectives Dave Stafford and Jim Canaday — whom he called “two good guys. Also, Sheriff Danny Moore once referred to Tanner as “the best investigator in the state of West Virginia” in a previous Register-Herald story. Lilly admitted he has large shoes to fill, but noted Tanner works just across the hall. “I’ll ask his advice a lot,” he said. The main difference between road patrol and the detective bureau, he said, is time. Road patrol officers go from one emergency call to the next, but detectives — barring very major incidents — get to spend more time on an individual case. Road patrol is an experience he enjoys; however, he is ready to try another facet of law enforcement. “I like both,” Lilly said. “This is definitely an experience I want to try out.” The biggest crime problems in Raleigh County seem to be domestic violence or property-related ones — and a large amount of both are tied to illegal drugs, Lilly said. For example, someone may steal to support a drug habit. He believes the TRIDENT drug task force for both Raleigh and Fayette counties is doing well in fighting the drug trade, and other officers are doing well combating other crimes — so the sheriff’s department should stay the course. “We’re working hard at getting things done,” he said. Lilly said the greatest influences in his life have been his parents. “They gave me every opportunity I could ask for to succeed in life,” he said. “There’s no way they could have done a better job as parents.” At age 20, Lilly became a law enforcement officer because he wanted to help his community and have an exciting career — where the unexpected is to be expected. “I didn’t want to be sitting in a cubicle, doing the same old, same old every day,” he said. “... In law enforcement, you’re out there amongst the public. When you log on duty, you don’t know what you’ll be facing. It could be a bad life-or-death situation, but in law enforcement, things can be fairly routine, too. “...There seems to be more freedom in law enforcement. You’re out of the office doing things.” Working in his native county is an added bonus, Lilly noted — one that often gives him a “home court advantage” on the job. “I know the community, and I have an idea of what’s going on,” he said. “I know a lot of people. That should help, I’m sure. I know on road patrol, I knew who to talk to for different things.” In dealing with the general public, Lilly said his philosophy is to treat people the way he would want to be treated — even people he arrests.
“I’ve had people I’ve arrested thank me — believe it or not,” he said. “Police officers are members of the community, too. They should never put themselves above the public.” When dealing with crime victims, Lilly said officers need to be sensitive — but officers have a job to do. Officers must make sure that all information from them is accurate, and the alleged incidents did actually happen to ensure a successful investigation. The most rewarding part of his job, or any officer’s job, he says, is any time they can help a child. Situations in which a child is in danger — especially at the hands of another person — are especially saddening to him. “It amazes me what people will do to children,” Lilly said. “I don’t have any idea how anyone could hurt a child.” He remembered one teenage boy who once threatened to commit suicide. He said he later saw him after the young man graduated from basic training in the U.S. Army and had put his life back on track. The young man gave Lilly credit.
By Amelia Pridemore E-mail:apridemore@ register-herald.com
http://www.register-herald.com/policecourts/x519065939/New-detective-chief-says-he-ll-give-his-all-to-job