Westmoreland chief deputy sheriff Eckels retires after year on the job

Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said Thursday he is in no rush to find a replacement for his former chief deputy, who retired last week after serving just a year in the role.

Albert confirmed Roger Eckels, a former district judge from Mt. Pleasant, has left the job as the department’s second in command.

“He was the most qualified chief to ever work in the sheriff’s department,” Albert said.

Eckels, 66, was among Albert’s first hires when he took office in January 2020 after defeating two-term Republican Sheriff Jonathan Held. Eckels served nearly three decades as a district judge until he retired in 2019. He worked as a senior judge for about a year before moving on to the sheriff’s office last year.

Eckels did not respond calls seeking comment Thursday.

In his role as chief deputy, Eckels served as Albert’s right-hand man and oversaw the department’s firearms training and certification process. He earned an annual salary of just under $45,000.

The sheriff’s department, which under Held had been besieged by lawsuits and employee grievances, has over the last 12 months steered clear of major legal issues.

Albert, who was elected as a Democrat, made news last summer when he switched his political party affiliation to Republican and later said his office would refuse to enforce any coronavirus pandemic restrictions that shut down businesses in Westmoreland County.

Albert said he won’t immediately seek a replacement for Eckels.

“I’m in no hurry,” Albert said. “I won’t hire anyone until I can find someone to do everything he did.”