Lt. Rex Wyatt stands outside the Alleghany County Law Enforce-ment Center on his last day of work Aug. 27. Wyatt is retiring as after 23 years with the town police force.

Rex Wyatt retires after 23 years as town policeman

A local icon in blue will no longer be on patrol on the streets of Sparta. Lt. Rex Wyatt worked his last day on Aug. 27 after 23 years on the force, marking the first time that a town officer has ever retired from duty.

Wyatt has been through some tough times on the force, including having been shot at, cut with a knife, bit, kicked and spit on. “But by the grace of the Good Lord, I’ve never had to abuse anyone,” Wyatt said.

“I’ve had to put my hands on them, but I’ve always tried to treat people like I wanted to be treated. I’ve tried to set an example for the public and other law enforcement personnel.”

He recalled the instance of being shot at. “I was assisting a county officer on a call and was shot at from a distance with a high-powered rifle. The bullet struck the patrol car.” Wyatt said he had bent over to use the radio when the shot struck less than a foot from his head in the car door.

“The bullet had evidently deflected off a limb,” he said. The other officers responding sneaked around behind the suspect and subdued him before anyone was injured.

Wyatt also recalled being cut with a knife. “I was responding to a call in an apartment below the high school where an individual was intoxicated,” he said. At that time, he was working for the sheriff’s department and was assisting the town officer, Grady Pruitt.

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