Jasper County Sherriff Retires

After 35-years in law enforcement, Jasper County Sheriff Bill Pierce announced today he is retiring, effective immediately. Sheriff Bill Pierce`s last year in office was met with some controversy. So what were these issues within the sheriff`s department? There are four main areas of controversy surrounding the now former Sheriff. The most recent is an issue with one of the Sheriff`s deputies and his wife who took a trip to Florida to extradite an inmate. The couple spent two nights at hotels in Panama City and Tampa Bay, with receipts totaling more than 17 hundred dollars. The state has refused to pay that expense. Another case under investigation is the Sheriff`s commissary. The Missouri Attorney General is examining back income tax returns. The sheriff and his wife run the commissary as a private business. The controversy stems from county paid workers taking inmate orders and distributing them. And the Route 66 Music Festival is also under investigation. An examination of Captain Tony Coleman`s alleged stealing came under Pierce`s watch. Coleman is accused of taking money from a Salvation Army collection at the Route 66 Music Festival. Also Sheriff`s deputies were mistakenly paid twice during the music festival. The deputies had to work off 168 hours to repay the county. So again, a long term as Sheriff has come to an end. Jasper County Sheriff Bill Pierce was elected Jasper County Sheriff in 1988. His current term in office expires December 31st 2004. The Jasper County Commission will now name an interim Sheriff. The retirement comes after 35 years serving in law enforcement. Reported By: Brad Douglas & Ryan Loyd