The Wood County Sheriff’s Department just received a financial boost from an unlikely source: old and unclaimed firearms.
State Treasurer Larry Pack presented a check for $5,078.75 to the department during a visit to Parkersburg on Thursday. The funds come from a special auction program run by the Treasurer’s Office, which allows law enforcement agencies to hand over unclaimed, outdated, or seized firearms for public auction.
“We handle the background checks, organize the auction, and sell the firearms only to federally licensed dealers,” Pack explained. “Then, we return the proceeds to the departments where those cases originated.”
Earlier this week, Pack also presented $5,333.75 to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in Ripley.
How the Auction Program Works
The program gives departments a way to clear out storage rooms filled with firearms—many of which are tied to closed cases, unclaimed after an owner’s death, or were replaced through insurance. Some are just older weapons that departments no longer use.
Once cases are adjudicated, law enforcement agencies can legally transfer those firearms to the Treasurer’s Office. The auctions, conducted online, allow the state to reach licensed dealers across the country.
“This system has grown every year,” Pack noted. “We estimate we’ll return around $500,000 to departments across West Virginia this year alone.”
Supporting Local Budgets
For agencies like Wood County, the funding provides much-needed support for expenses that often stretch tight departmental budgets.
“This money goes directly into our Special Law Account,” said Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard. “It helps us cover things like equipment, supplies, and facility upgrades.”
Past purchases made from auction funds include gym equipment for a deputy fitness center, an emergency response vehicle, lockers, and gun racks for storing seized weapons.
“When we seize firearms, we take the responsibility of storing and securing them seriously,” Woodyard added. “And having this program means we can eventually use that space and get funding in return.”
A Partnership That Pays Off
The auction program, which has been running for five to six years, is now widely used by nearly every law enforcement agency in the state—from local police and sheriff’s departments to the West Virginia State Police.
Chief Deputy Eric Cullen of Jackson County said their share will likely go toward improvements at their new training center.
“We truly appreciate what the Treasurer’s Office does for us,” Cullen said. “This funding helps more than people realize.”
Pack emphasized that the goal of the program is simple: to support the people who protect and serve communities every day.
“Budgets are always tight, especially for local law enforcement,” he said. “We’re proud to give something back to departments that give so much to our state.”
