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Virginia Sheriffs’ Association
The Voice of Virginia’s Sheriffs & Deputies
Deputy Samuel Viars
Deputy Samuel Viars

Beginning September 16, 2014 two “new” faces at the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office will be very familiar faces. Josh Carter and Samuel “Hody” Viars are the newest Deputies in the Sheriff’s Office. Both of them are “second generation” Deputies. Josh Carter is the son of Lt. Forrest Carter who works in the patrol division, and Hody Viars is the son of former Chief Deputy Sam Viars.

Josh Carter comes to the Sheriff’s Office after completing 4 years in the United States Marine Corps. Josh was the using his GI Bill to attend the pre-employment program offered at Southwest Criminal Justice Training Academy when he was hired and will graduate this December.

Viars graduated from Radford University in 2013 with a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice. He was working at the New River Valley Regional Jail when he accepted a position with the Sheriff’s Office. In addition to being the son of former Chief Deputy Sam Viars, Hody also has two uncles employed by the Sheriff’s Office: 1st Sgt. Doug Hudson and Sgt. Jack Hudson.

Deputy Josh Carter
Deputy Josh Carter

Viars will be attending the Basic Law Enforcement School at Southwest Criminal Justice Training Academy in January.

Both Josh and Hody are well known by SWCJTA Director Doug Cooley who was employed by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years.

“It’s nice to see two young men who grew up as part of Sheriff’s Office Sheriff’s Office family work so hard to come back and rejoin the family,” said Sheriff Doug King. “We have followed them most of their lives: high school sports, extra-curricular activities, college, and military. We are extremely pleased and very proud of their accomplishments and look forward to the things that we know they can accomplish in the future. I am thankful that there are still fine men and women that are willing to step up and become Law Enforcement officers and serve their communities.