Council has Law Enforcement Tone as Officers Take Oath, Hotsinpiller Memorial Bridge Proclamation Read
By Jeff Toquinto on May 13, 2025
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It was an evening of the present and future for law enforcement as well as paying respect to its past Monday evening. During last night’s City Council meeting, the Bridgeport’s Police Department officially welcomed its two newest members and a proclamation paving the way for a bridge being named in honor of the late Deputy U.S. Marshal Derek Hotsinpiller was approved.
During Council’s first meeting of May, Mayor Andy Lang administered the oath of office to Officer Richard Bartley and Officer Ryan /Council%205-12-25%20I.jpg)
Hamrick. Earlier this month, both men graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy.
Hamrick. Earlier this month, both men graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy.
“They took a calling not many people do anymore,” said Police Chief Mark Rogers. “They were able to pass the stringent backgrounds that we require, and they kept their nose to the grindstone and powered through what is a sometimes unpleasant 16-week at the (State Police) Academy. They made it through, and we’re grateful to have them.”
Both new members come from a law enforcement background. Hamrick is the son of Bridgeport SRO Jamie Hamrick. Bartley is the son of Harrison County Sheriff's Deputy Lt. C.D. McIntyre.
Another permanent move made by Council involved reading a proclamation for the City Park bridge to be dedicated as the DUSM (Deputy /Council%205-12-25%20II%20Hamrick.jpg)
United States Marshal) Derek W. Hotsinpiller Memorial Bridge. The dedication is planned to take place prior to the start of the 15th Annual Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K that begins and ends at City Park.
United States Marshal) Derek W. Hotsinpiller Memorial Bridge. The dedication is planned to take place prior to the start of the 15th Annual Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K that begins and ends at City Park.
Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth read the proclamation to the group gathered. He said he is collaborating with Rogers on the memorial and plans to have it in place for the June race.
Hotsinpiller, born in Bridgeport and a BHS graduate, was shot and killed while serving a warrant at a home in Elkins in February of 2011. He was 24.
Also Monday, Bartley and Hamrick were not the only two individuals officially brought on board Monday. A vacant Bridgeport department head position was filled as well.
Council gave the green light to remove the interim tag from Jill Rafter at the session. Rafter replaced Savanna Draper, who had resigned/Council%205-12-25%20V%20Rafter.jpg)
from the post after taking over from long-time director Sharon Saye.
from the post after taking over from long-time director Sharon Saye.
Prior to her arrival at the Bridgeport Library, Rafter worked at the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library. She served as a director during her time there. Interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth said recently that Rafter stepped in for Draper as the interim director as the department “hasn’t missed a beat,” since Rafter, who has worked at the Bridgeport library since October of 2022, assumed the role. Nothing will change with the exception of the interim tag being removed.
Rafter also served as the Marion County Public Library Director. She joked that her colleagues at her former stop were giving her a hard time about the “interim” tag, but not that it has been removed she has the “library trifecta.”
A large portion of the rest of the meeting focused on awards and presentations. In fact, there are seven items – including the Hotsinpiller proclamation – that were listed in the category.
The first two items involve Bridgeport High School. Council recognized the boys and girls state championship swim teams and also /Council%205-12-25%20Shuttleworth.jpg)
recognized the Bridgeport Thespian Team that came home with honors at their state festival. Photos of those presentations, with the swim team made by Lang and the thespians by Council member Jason Campbell, will be in the coming days on Connect-Bridgeport.
recognized the Bridgeport Thespian Team that came home with honors at their state festival. Photos of those presentations, with the swim team made by Lang and the thespians by Council member Jason Campbell, will be in the coming days on Connect-Bridgeport.
There was also a presentation of an employee service award. Zachary Byers was recognized for 10 years of service with the Bridgeport Fire Department. Byers was not in attendance.
Council also had a second proclamation during the meeting. The governing body announced a proclamation in the city for Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month.
City Clerk Lauren Rogers thanked Council and those in attendance regarding the proclamation on the disease. Rogers became emotional talking about the impact it has had on her family, including those currently with it and a grandfather who passed away from it.
As for the final three items, Council addressed relatively procedural issues. The first was to change the date of the Monday, May 26 meeting to Monday, May 19 as the May 26 date falls on Memorial Day. Typically, the meeting would fall on the following Tuesday, but a city election “Meet the Candidates” forum is set for May 27.
One of the others approved was the fiscal year 2025-26 Bridgeport salary ordinance, which Shuttleworth said takes place annually to assure all approved matters – from pay increases to promotions – are official. A city fee schedule was approved and amended with/Council%205-12-25%20IV.jpg)
amendment involving passports fees at the library, which is a relatively new service offered there.
amendment involving passports fees at the library, which is a relatively new service offered there.
Council met in a work session at 5 p.m. that immediately went into executive session for a little more than an hour and 15 minutes. The group’s work session then was open, and the governing body briefly talked about a few items. Key among them was an update to the Bridgeport Comprehensive Plan. More discussion is expected on that at perhaps the next Council meeting.
Ruth Allen was the only member to speak during the public comments portion of the meeting. She told those gathered they were invited to attend the May 27 Meet the Candidates event that will be at 7 p.m. at the Benedum Civic Center ahead of the June 10 election.
Early in the meeting, Lang told those gathered that City Attorney Dean Ramsey celebrated a birthday last week and the packed chamber sang happy birthday to him. Ramsey has been serving the city for 54 years.
Jeffrey Landis, the water utility operator at the wastewater treatment plant, gave the invocation.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows members of the Bridgeport Police Department and City Council on hand for Monday's oath of office that was given to the two new members. Thes second photo shows Richard Bartley receiving the oath from Mayor Andy Lang, while Ryan Hamrick takes the oath in third image. In the fourth photo, new librarian Jill Ratler shakes hands with Lang following the proclamation that removed the interim tag from her post. In the fifth image, interim City Manager Joe Shuttleworth addresses the crowd, while City Attorney Dean Ramsey smiles as the audience seranaded him with Happy Birthday.
