Al Kisner retires from office after over 42 years on the job
In 2021, you’re more likely to find Al Kisner on a golf course than at the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, where’s he’s worked for more than 42 years.
The current Chief Deputy and former two-term sheriff decided, at 63, it was time to retire. His wife, Nada, agreed and is also retiring from her career as a banker — something Kisner is thrilled about.
“I’ve always loved my job. I love being around people. I love trying to help people,” Kisner said. “And I know that’s a cliche a lot of people say when they’re getting ready to retire, especially from a career like this, but it’s true.”
The job is hard, so Kisner always made it a point to joke around.
“The job is just serious every day, and you never know when something really bad might happen,” he said. “If I can say or do something that’ll make you laugh one time that day — it might be the only time you laugh that day because of what’s going on.”
Kisner was one of the people who hired Sheriff Perry Palmer in 1991.
“I’d say I probably learned more from him than anybody at the department, especially at the sheriff’s level,” Palmer said. “He taught me a lot of knowledge … a lot of my career of being a sheriff goes to him.”
Palmer said Kisner is going to be hard to replace, but there are good people around him who he thinks can step up.
Kisner agrees, noting the department was there long before him and will be long after he says goodbye.
“They’ll be fine,” Kisner said. “There are people here that are very knowledgeable.”
And, if there’s a question, he’s only a phone call away and willing to help.
Kisner was a midnight shift lieutenant when Deputy Craig Ruscello started and someone who could always be looked to for answers, Ruscello said.
“I can’t thank him enough for the things he’s done for me. There’s just no words for it,” Ruscello said.
Kisner said he hopes a trip that was planned for 2020 to the New England states, such as Vermont and Maine, can happen in 2021. He’s also been to places such as Belize, Aruba and the Virgin Islands.
“It’s just something that we enjoy a lot is traveling and seeing different cultures,” he said.
But Monongalia County is home.
“It’s been home forever, and it’ll stay home,” Kisner said.
Kisner said he felt most impactful during his time as a DARE instructor — where he was able to make positive connections with kids — and the times he participated in the Shop with a Deputy program around Christmas.
Kisner will retire at the end of the month.
“The biggest thing to take away from this is not only what an asset he’s been for 42 years in the department but the community,” Palmer said. “He’s really earned his retirement after 42 years to spend time with his family and do whatever he wants to do.”
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