GRANVILLE – Granville Town Council accepted the retirement of its police chief and approved the hiring of a 14th firefighter during its regular meeting Tuesday.
GPD Chief Craig Corkrean said it was a difficult decision but an opportunity to teach at Fairmont State University may not come around again. He will be teaching courses such as criminal justice and crime scene investigation.
“I’ve calculated that I’ve attended 350 of these meetings,” Corkrean told council. “If I get withdrawals the second or fourth Tuesday, I’ll stop by.”
The chief, whose last day will be Aug. 7, said after 16 years leading the Granville Police Department, he was ready for a new challenge.
“I’m going to miss this place. I really struggled with this decision but It’s the right one,” he said. “I like to think I’m leaving this place in a better place. I appreciate all the support.”
Corkrean began his career as a police officer in 2005 with the West Virginia University Police Department. He joined the Granville Police Department in 2007, becoming its chief in 2010. He will stay on the Granville force as a part-time officer.
“I’ve got cases I need to see through to the end,” he said.
Corkrean said he’s a two-time graduate of FSU. He has two Master of Science degrees in digital forensic science and criminal justice. He is also a graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy and the FBI National Academy.
“I will be teaching the future of this profession, and I’m really excited about it,” Corkrean said.
Granville Mayor Patricia Lewis said it was “gut-wrenching” to receive Corkrean’s retirement notice, but she understood the decision.
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Granville Fire Department
Council approved a 14th paid firefighter for the department at the request of Chief Charles Renner, who said he has two currently on medical leave and one who is a new father. This additional firefighter will be plugged into one of the crews, but also used to fill in on the other crews when needed.
The paid firefighters make up three crews of four working 24-hour shifts. Renner said volunteer firefighters are “few and far between” these days, but he does have some who are considered “paid on-call.” They are called out as needed for emergencies in the town.
The Granville Fire and Police departments are involved in a friendly competition to see which department can raise the most money to support the 2026 Shop with a First Responder event and allow them to make a donation to help fight breast cancer. T-shirts – short- and long- sleeve — can be ordered through Aug. 16.
Shop with a First Responder is a community program that gives local children and families facing financial hardship, the opportunity to enjoy a brighter holiday season. Children are paired with members of the fire department, police department, EMS and other first responders for a special shopping trip to pick out gifts, winter clothing and other essentials.
More information about the competition and ordering the shirts is available on the Granville Fire Department’s Facebook page.
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Other town news
◼ The Aug. 6 meeting with Granville officials and representatives from West Virginia DEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Land has been postponed because Lewis and other town officials have to be in Charleston that day. That meeting was scheduled to discuss repairs to Emmett Drive.
◼ Public Works Director Roy Wilson said his crew will be using a rented tar machine for two more weeks as they repair potholes in town streets. He said he is still putting together a proposal to purchase a blacktop seal coat machine.
◼ The next Granville Town Council meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 11.
