Veteran Receives Special Surprise From Sheriff’s Office

Ryan West, middle, with Sheriff Rich Kelly on the right, and Chief Deputy Todd Lappin, left, stand in front of the new vehicle given to West on Thursday. (Photo by Ashley Kelly).

On Thursday, Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly presented a Sheriff’s Deputy with a special tribute for his service to our Country.  Deputy Ryan West is a retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2, who served 18 years before being forced to medically retire due to injuries sustained during a training exercise.

In true Marine fashion, Deputy West requested his vehicle get new decals, as the current ones were tattered and worn, as he prepares to attend the Academy for Training.  Sheriff Kelly decided to utilize the opportunity to pay tribute to West’s service, and our United States Military, by wrapping the vehicle to honor our armed forces.

“We are honored to employ veterans,” said Kelly. “We have three merit deputies who are former United States Marines: Sergeant Joey Mitchell, Deputy Dennis Tillman and Deputy Ryan West.  This vehicle not only serves as a tribute to our community’s service men and women, but it is also a recruiting tool to bring prospective employees into our community.  Without our veterans, we couldn’t enjoy the freedoms that are afforded to us by their service and I am honored to work beside these fine men every day.”