Hill, Wheeler answer questions at Cole Democrat meeting

Gary Hill (photo at left) and John Wheeler (photo at right) speak at the Cole County Democratic Committee meeting on Thursday, July 21, 2016. They are both candidates for county sheriff in the party's Aug. 2 primary along with Randy Dampf, who did not attend the meeting.
Gary Hill (photo at left) and John Wheeler (photo at right) speak at the Cole County Democratic Committee meeting on Thursday, July 21, 2016. They are both candidates for county sheriff in the party's Aug. 2 primary along with Randy Dampf, who did not attend the meeting.

Two of the three Republican candidates for Cole County sheriff answered questions Thursday night from about three dozen people at the Cole County Democratic Committee's meeting.

Incumbent Greg White isn't running for re-election.

Current Chief Deputy John Wheeler and Sheriff's Patrol Division Commander Lt. Gary Hill appeared for about 75 minutes.

The third candidate, former Jefferson City police officer Randy Dampf, currently the prosecuting attorney's investigator, didn't attend. He told organizers late Thursday afternoon he had another engagement.

After growing up in other places - Hill in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Wheeler in Southeast Missouri - both consider Jefferson City their home.

Their previous experience was the biggest difference apparent during the meeting.

Wheeler cited his 30 years military experience and 20 years in law enforcement at both the city and county levels.

"I was a firefighter down in Sikeston, also," he said.

Wheeler joined the sheriff's department 11 years ago as White's chief deputy.

"I've been working on the budget, and I do the budget every year. I'm the one who does internal affairs," he explained. "With all these different aspects of experience in my life, I feel it gives me good vision to take the sheriff's department to the next phase.

"Your past doesn't make you, it prepares you for the future."

Hill came to Jefferson City in 1992 to attend Lincoln University, eventually earning a degree in criminal justice.

He worked for the Corrections department at the old Missouri State Penitentiary for about two years, then joined the sheriff's department in 1998. He's been a jailer, patrol deputy, assistant jail administrator, patrol sergeant and now lieutenant.

"I bring diversity in my level of education and my level of experience, just being able to talk to people," Hill said. "It took me a long time to develop all the skills and education and everything that I needed to be in the position I'm in now - running for sheriff.

"I've worked for four different sheriffs (John Hemeyer, George Brooks, Gary Kempker and Greg White) - and under each of those sheriffs, I've learned a lot."

No Democrat filed for the race, so whoever wins the Aug. 2 GOP primary will be the next sheriff.

Wheeler and Hill each said if voters choose him on Aug. 2, the other would be the chief deputy in the next administration.

Both men said the department's procedures haven't changed after the recent attacks on law officers around the country, partly because the sheriff doesn't have enough staff to make a change.

"We're covering 398 square miles, including about 10 other towns - and we're doing it with 21 people," Hill said. "The Jefferson City Police Department is covering 37 square miles, and they're doing it with about 80 officers."

Wheeler agreed sheriff's deputies are trained to be vigilant constantly, "and make sure that we're as safe as we possibly can, and that we're following all of our policies and procedures - because those procedures will save your life."

Both agreed deputies should use deadly force only as a last resort, after trying to use the least amount of force necessary to get a situation under control.

Both said domestic violence calls are some of the most difficult - and the department handles four or five domestic violence complaints every day.

They said the sheriff's department generally has a good, cooperative relationship with the Highway Patrol and the Jefferson City, Capitol and Lincoln University police, and all agencies are ready to help each other when needed.

Until White became sheriff, beer was a staple of the annual Sheriff's Barbecue fundraiser.

Both Wheeler and Hill said they would continue White's practice of banning alcohol, noting it created moral problems for law officers to encourage people getting drunk, then driving.

All three candidates are scheduled to appear in a News Tribune-sponsored forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Jefferson City Council chambers.

Related article: 3 seeks to succeed Cole County Sheriff Greg White