Wise County, VA — The longest serving Sheriff in Wise County, Virginia retires his badge today. Sheriff Ronnie Oakes began his 51-year-long law enforcement career as a Virginia State Trooper. After being shot in the head in 1972 during a traffic stop in Wise County, Oakes retired briefly after 27 years with Virginia State Police. In 1995, Oakes decided to run for Sheriff of Wise County, a position he has held ever since, until today. Sheriff Oakes was on hand for the swearing in of the man who was his Assistant Sheriff, Grant Kilgore, who won the general election in November for Sheriff.