One man, double duty.

Maj. Jeff Lawless, of the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, has served as jail administrator for the last couple of years. He will now have another title to go with that one: chief deputy.

Lawrence County Sheriff Tim Sexton announced Lawless' promotion last week.

"He is very instrumental to what we have accomplished at the sheriff's office in our first four years," Sexton said in making the announcement. "I am honored to have him working with me for another four."

Lawless is a 1984 graduate of Ironton High School and a graduate of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy.

He worked full time at the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office for six years before joining the staff of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio.

He returned to the sheriff's office four years ago. He was promoted to the rank of major and given the jail administrator's position in 2001. Sexton said Lawless will handle the responsibilities of both positions, that of jail administrator and chief deputy at this time.

"I appreciate the confidence the sheriff has shown in me and the support he has given me. I have strived to make this a better department and to make Lawrence County safer and will continue to do my best for the citizens of Lawrence County,"

Lawless said.

Lawless and his wife, Lana, have two children, Jeff and Tyler.