Sheriff White won't run for re-election

Sheriff Greg White will not run again when his term expires in 2017.
Sheriff Greg White will not run again when his term expires in 2017.

For many months, Greg White has been telling people he didn't plan on running for another term as Cole County Sheriff.

Monday he put out a public statement to make it official.

"I'll be 64 at the end of this term and I think that's old enough," he said. "We have some very capable people who can run this office and the only way for their upward mobility is if I'm not here."

White said that his prior experience with law enforcement, jail management/operations, and civil process service in Alaska, his time as a director of parks and recreation managing staff and setting/managing departmental budgeting, and other law enforcement experience, as well as his years pasturing churches in Alaska and Missouri worked well to prepare him to serve the citizens of Cole County as sheriff.

"The Office of Sheriff is unique in the venue of law enforcement," White said. "The cornerstone of the office is personal and professional integrity; you either have it or you don't."

Already candidates are coming out to run for White's position.

"I endorse Captain John Wheeler, the chief deputy, as the next Cole County Sheriff," White said. "John is a man of integrity that believes in the people of Cole County. He is equipped and prepared to carry the vision, the torch of transparent integrity, to greater horizons than the office has yet to experience."

Wheeler was picked by White as the deputy in April 2005 and is a former Jefferson City police officer, school resource officer and military veteran.

"It's important I think, that the sheriff have a (chief deputy) that they have a history with and they can trust, and I'd trust John with my life," White said.

A southeast Missouri native, he served in the Air Force for eight years as a technician and specialist following high school. He remained in the military after active duty by becoming a crew chief on F-15's in the Air National Guard. Wheeler also joined the Army National Guard, where he performed many jobs, including combat engineer, military police officer and transportation mechanic.

Wheeler was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

His law enforcement career began for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, where he worked from 1993 to 1996. Wheeler began work for the JCPD in August 1996, where he stayed until recently offered the chief deputy position.

Prior to his deployment in Iraq, Wheeler also was a school resource officer at Lewis and Clark Middle School.

Also Monday, retired Jefferson City police lieutenant and Cole County Prosecutor Investigator Randy Dampf plans to kick-off his campaign at the end of next month.

As investigator for the prosecutor he assists in investigations, trial preparation and witness and victim services.

Dampf started in law enforcement in 1984 as a reserve Jefferson City police officer.

He began full-time duties in 1986.

During his time with the police department, Dampf served as a narcotics officer, field training officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol lieutenant, detective lieutenant and ended as interim commander of the department's support services division.

Dampf retired from the department in May 2014 after 28 years on the job. During his career, he was awarded both the Medal of Honor for Valor and Medal of Honor for Merit.

"I believe I have experience and knowledge to be an effective leader for Cole County, not just for the sheriff's office, but the all of the county as well, Dampf said.

Dampf added he had no immediate plans for changes in the department, if elected.

"Every program and activities I would look at closely," he said. "There is no agenda I'm working on. You will always have ongoing problems with thefts and different crimes we could address better with other agencies, such as the highway patrol and police department. With limited resourced and manpower you have to examine to see if there are better ways to do things."

Also announcing his intention to run was Cole County Sheriff Lt. Gary Hill.

"My family and I did not come to this decision lightly," Hill said in a press release. "The primary reason is because I feel I am a highly qualified candidate to be the next sheriff of Cole County. For the last 17 years, I have listened to and handled the concerns of Cole County citizens. I feel it is my duty to continue to serve the citizens of Cole County as their next sheriff."

Hill started his career as a corrections officer at the old Jefferson City Correctional Center in 1996. After putting himself through the sheriff's training academy, Hill started work in the sheriff's office in 1998 starting as a detention officer followed by assistant jail administrator, patrol deputy, patrol sergeant and for the last 10 years he's held the position of patrol division commander.

Hill is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and currently instructs at Columbia College, Lincoln University as well as the Missouri Sheriff's Training Academy.

"With the support of the citizens of Cole County, I will use my education and experience to build on the successes of my predecessor to develop new strategies to enhance the safety and security of Cole County," Hill said.

White's them ends in Jan of 2017.