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New Steubenville police officer follows in dad’s footsteps

By LINDA HARRIS 1 min read
TAKING THE OATH — Cory Barrett, center, took his oath as a Steubenville police officer Thursday at Historic Fort Steuben Park from Municipal Judge John Mascio. Pictured at the ceremony were, from left, Mascio, City Manager Jim Mavromatis, Barrett, his mother, Cindy Bickerstaff, and his brother, Tyler Bickerstaff. Barrett will carry the badge his father, Lance Bickerstaff, had used during his 27 years with the Steubenville Police Department. (Photo by Linda Harris)

STEUBENVILLE -- Cory Barrett was sworn in Thursday as the newest member of Steubenville's police department.

Barrett, the son of retired Police Sgt. Lance Bickerstaff and Cindy Barrett Bickerstaff, had been working as an auxiliary officer with the Wintersville Police Department since graduating from the police academy earlier this year.

"My dad worked here, he was a sergeant when he retired," Barrett said. "I just wanted to follow in his footsteps. I want to work in the city I was raised in and serve my community."

Lance Bickerstaff was with the police department 27 years before his retirement.

His mother is a dispatcher with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

Steubenville Municipal Judge John Mascio delivered the oath. Mayor Jerry Barilla and City Manager Jim Mavromatis also took part in the ceremony.

With Barrett's hiring, Chief Bill McCafferty said the police department now has 39 officers -- that's one person short of a full complement, but he said there's currently no timetable for bringing his department up to full staffing levels.

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