Mathews County Sheriff-elect April Edwards has announced the appointment of Patric Graham as major/chief deputy of the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office when Edwards steps into her position as sheriff on Jan. 1.

According to a press release, Graham has had a varied career that encompasses the military, fire and rescue service, and law enforcement. He most recently served as a senior investigator with the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office.

A Newport News native, Graham graduated from high school in Florida in 1993, where his family relocated while he was growing up. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army, serving overseas and in several stateside locations, ending up at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

After leaving the military in 1997, said the release, Graham went into law enforcement, starting his career in Henrico County in 1998 and eventually landing in Gloucester.

In 2001, Graham became a medic-firefighter for the City of Hampton. He served as station officer and EMS supervisor...