Miami News-Record
Thursday, May 16, 1996
Mood Grim in sheriff’s office
By Ron Holmes
Miami News-Record
As word of the indictments against Sheriff Ed Walker spread through the courthouse Wednesday, the mood was grim in the department. The department door was locked and reporters, who normally have relatively free access, were barred. “It’s not a new policy,” said Undersheriff Mike Smith. “It’s an old policy.”
But arrest and offense reports were also unavailable and Smith refused to discuss the unfolding events. Only Walker granted interviews.
Part of the tightening of security is a result of the leak to a Joplin television station early in the week of a letter written by Walker to his staff regarding the then-impending indictments, but it is also a reflection of a severely beleaguered department.
In addition to mounting problems and complaints about jail operation, the department has suffered a string of resignations within past months.
“Three went to other jobs and one resigned for personal reasons,” said Smith. “The reserves are helping us out a lot, and as needed, we’re working overtime to compensate.”
During the day Wednesday, there was only one field deputy on duty to cover the county. Smith said there are usually two, but even that figure reflects their current under-staffing.
Moreover the department is financially strapped, not necessarily an unusual circumstance in county offices near the end of the fiscal year. Walker recently said that while his budget was $300,000 his payroll was running $320,000. According to the county treasurer’s office this morning only $98.19 remained in the payroll account. But Smith said that meeting payroll would not be a problem. “I think we’ll squeeze through,” he said. “We’ve got cash accounts we can work out of also. We have Department of Corrections accounts for housing prisoners and community sentencing and a sheriff service fees account.
There was also speculation regarding who might run the office should the sheriff be ousted. As undersheriff Smith is a likely candidate. He said that he has not talked with the commissioners about the matter, but indicated he would assume the position should it become available.
County Commissioner Jason Leake said the commission will definitely meet with District Attorney Ben Loring Monday morning to discuss a possible ouster. “We’re meeting to determine our legal obligations and authority,” Leake said. “If an ouster should occur and it should fall to us to make an appointment, I think it would be advantageous to open it up to applications. That’s how I would do it.” Leake also said he would not rule out appointing a current candidate for the office. “Whether candidate, former sheriff, or whoever, anyone who wanted to make an application should be allowed,” he said.
Leake also said there had been a breakdown in communications between the commission and the Sheriff’s Department in the past six to eight months. “I’ve had to find out about some of their problems through the newspaper,” he said.
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