The WV State Police Superintendent is the colonel who commands the West Virginia State Police, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate and reporting to the Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Colonel J. L. Mitchell currently holds the office. The position carries statutory authority over how the agency is organized, who is hired and promoted within it, how troopers are trained, and how the agency’s operating budget is spent.
How the Superintendent Gets the Job
The Governor nominates the Superintendent, and the West Virginia Senate reviews the candidate and votes on confirmation.1West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-2 – Superintendent; Departmental Headquarters; Continuation of the State Police No one takes the office without that legislative sign-off. If a vacancy opens while the Senate is out of session, the Governor can make a recess appointment, but the appointee still faces a confirmation vote once the Legislature reconvenes.
Governors sometimes have to move fast. When Superintendent Jan Cahill resigned in 2023, Governor Justice named Jack Chambers as Interim Superintendent the same day to keep the agency’s command intact.2Office of the Governor. Gov. Justice Announces Resignation of Jan Cahill; Appoints Interim Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police
Who Can Serve
State law sets a few hard requirements. The appointee must be at least 30 years old on the date of appointment and must execute a $10,000 bond payable to the State of West Virginia and conditioned on faithful performance of duties.1West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-2 – Superintendent; Departmental Headquarters; Continuation of the State Police The Attorney General reviews the bond for proper form, and the Governor approves its sufficiency. A constitutional oath of office must be taken before any duties begin.
Once sworn in, the Superintendent holds the rank of colonel and receives the rights, benefits, and privileges available to regularly enlisted members. Salary is set under a separate executive compensation provision rather than the trooper pay schedule, and the Superintendent is excluded from the supplemental pay provisions that apply to other sworn members.3West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-5 – Career Progression System State; Salaries; Exclusion From Wage and Hour Laws, With Supplemental Payment; Bond; Leave Time for Members Called to Duty in Guard or Reserves Agency headquarters sit in Kanawha County.
What the Superintendent Does
The job is a wide one. The Superintendent creates the troops, districts, and detachments that make up the State Police and decides how many officers each unit needs based on operational demand.4West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-3 – State Police The overall organizational framework has to be established through an interpretive rule, giving the structure formal regulatory footing rather than resting on internal policy alone.
Training sits in the same hands. The Superintendent provides facilities for training all state police members, sets the basic requirements for newly enlisted troopers, and directs advanced and in-service programs for existing members. The office is also required to hold entry-level training classes for other law enforcement officers across the state at no cost beyond food, lodging, and supplies.4West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-3 – State Police
Budget authority follows the operational authority. The Superintendent is authorized to spend from agency accounts to cover training costs, building maintenance, equipment purchases and repairs, and the operating expenses of the State Police Academy and the communications section.4West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-3 – State Police
Personnel decisions run through the same office. The Superintendent appoints a deputy superintendent from the enlisted membership, who holds the rank of lieutenant colonel and stands next in authority.5West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 15-2-4 – Appointment of Commissioned Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, Other Members; Temporary and Permanent Positions Additional officers and members are appointed from within the ranks to staff executive offices, the training school, and the forensic laboratory. The Superintendent also decides staffing for criminal records, traffic safety coordination, supply and accounting, and other support functions. Promotions to every commissioned and noncommissioned rank flow through the Superintendent’s office.
Where the Office Sits in State Government
The State Police falls within the Department of Homeland Security in West Virginia’s executive branch.6West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 5F-2-1 – Transfer and Incorporation of Agencies and Boards;டepartments The Superintendent operates under the Cabinet Secretary of that department, which also oversees the Division of Emergency Management, the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Fire Marshal, and other public safety entities. During large-scale incidents or declared emergencies, coordination between the Superintendent and Homeland Security determines how state police resources are deployed alongside other public safety agencies.
How a Superintendent Leaves Office
Because the Superintendent is a gubernatorial appointee, the Governor can remove the officeholder at will. The statute is explicit that no cause needs to be assigned, and this authority applies to all officers appointed by the Governor regardless of whether a term is fixed by law.7West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 6-6-4 – Removal by Governor of Appointee
When the office becomes vacant through resignation, removal, or any other reason, the Governor appoints an interim superintendent who assumes full legal authority over the agency until a permanent successor is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.2Office of the Governor. Gov. Justice Announces Resignation of Jan Cahill; Appoints Interim Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police The agency never operates without an executive head.
Retirement
The Superintendent participates in the West Virginia State Police Retirement System known as Plan B, the same system covering other sworn members. Regular retirement requires reaching age 50 with at least 25 years of credited service, or age 52 with at least 20 years.8West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board. West Virginia State Police Retirement System (Plan B) Members under age 52 with 20 or more years of service can take early retirement at a reduced benefit, and a member with at least 10 years of service who leaves contributions on deposit qualifies for deferred benefits starting at age 62.
The pension formula is 3 percent multiplied by years of service multiplied by the final average salary, which is calculated using the highest five years of annual compensation within the member’s last 10 years of service, overtime included.8West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board. West Virginia State Police Retirement System (Plan B) A superintendent retiring at the regular threshold with 25 years of service would draw 75 percent of that final average salary for life.