Experienced interim police chief from Bath brings experience

by Trish Rudder

Berkeley Springs’ The new interim police chief is a retired captain of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department with 28 years of service in the police force.

Ron Gardner, a full-time patrol officer, took over as head of the city department after former chief Bill Carper resigned in May.

He has been with the department since April 2023, starting as a part-time patrol officer before moving full-time.

Gardner served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Beirut, Lebanon.

Protecting the city of Bath is Gardner’s core principle.

“We will try to continue what our former police chief did for the community and keep the city safe,” Gardner said last week.

He said the bypass was good for the city because he believed that outside influences were bringing drugs into the city.

“The bypass will benefit our small-town feel,” Gardner said.