LETTERS: FORMER DEPUTY KNEW INFORMATION WAS WRONG

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter is a response to a July 11 story regarding allegations made by a former Perry County sheriff's deputy.

To the editor:

Since my Democrat opponent has seen fit to fabricate information and present it as facts, knowing it is not true, I wish to add this additional information concerning his allegations.

Mr. Detjen got another county official to write to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and ask for an investigation on April 30. This was 12 days after I had requested the investigation, yet he wants you to believe that he was the one who initiated it.

Mr. Detjen was interviewed on May 14 and admitted that he never spoke with the owner, never attempted to find out what he valued the car at or what the car sold for. He admitted that he had no knowledge concerning the sale of the vehicle or any of the circumstances or details of the transactions surrounding it. In essence, he admitted that he really didn't know anything about what he was alleging. About the only thing he accomplished is to exhibit his own ineptitude as an investigator. After reading the report of his interview, one can plainly see that the only person he is seriously interested in implicating is me.

When he tried to tell the investigator that I was involved, the investigator assured him I had been looked at and was not involved. When he claimed the vehicle was still listed as stolen, the investigator assured him that he had checked into it, and the vehicle had been reported as recovered and was not listed as stolen. Even after being told this, Mr. Detjen continues to try to convince you that I was involved in some kind of conspiracy and was trying to sell him a stolen car. Both the man from Oklahoma and his son were listed as owners on the vehicle title. Since one cannot steal something that is theirs, technically speaking the vehicle was not even stolen. I never offered to sell a car or anything else to Mr. Detjen.

Mr. Detjen didn't forget my Republican opponent in his allegations either. He said that Mr. Burger was involved by selling guns to the deputy in question for stolen money. Of course, this was also looked into and found to be a fallacy, but it should help to show you what Mr. Detjen's allegations are about.

Now, what kind of person would do this? Anyone who would make these ridiculous allegations, knowing full well that they have been proven false, needs to be looked at closely.

Mr. Detjen could have retired with full benefits as early as January. He gained nothing by waiting until now to retire. As a matter of fact, his retirement was locked in and was guaranteed, upon five years of service. That was 10 years ago. Yet he claims that he waited until now to make the allegation out of fear of losing his job and retirement benefits, but the few extra months he worked didn't earn him any increase to speak of.

Finally, Mr. Detjen knows full well that I have never disciplined anyone for being honest. However, he has personal knowledge that I have disciplined people for being dishonest.

As sick as everyone is of dirty politics, he should realize that the only one he is hurting here is himself, because the truth always comes out.

GARY J. SCHAAF, Sheriff

Perry County

Perryville