Deputies to patrol Oran after entire police force resigns

By JENNIFER FREEZE

Southeast Missourian

The search for a police force in Oran has begun.

The city's three police officers, including chief Marc Tragesser, had resigned by 8 a.m. Tuesday, Mayor Tom Urhahn said at a regular board of aldermen meeting Tuesday night.

Urhahn said Tragesser accepted a sheriff's deputy position with the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department, and Oran police officers Richard Howard and Lucas Malahy had both resigned.

"All three have left and all their equipment has been turned in. We've begun to search for new officers," Urhahn said.

The board of aldermen plan to meet in 14 days to review applications and hire new officers.

Until new officers are hired, the Scott County Sheriff's Department will handle all calls and patrol the streets of Oran.

"They will be providing the law in Oran for now," Urhahn said. "Any complaints can be made to the sheriff's department."

Scott County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Gregg Ourth said the department has plenty of staff to patrol Oran until the city hires new police.

"We'll make routine passes through the city until they've got their own officers," Ourth said at the aldermen meeting.

Problems from the start

Tragesser has been police chief in Oran since July 2005 when he took over for the retiring Howard Stevens. Controversy has plagued Tragesser since he began the job.

Some residents complained Tragesser was targeting certain people, and other residents thought Tragesser's approach to law enforcement was overzealous. Other residents praised the job he was doing, leading to a rift in the small community.

After Urhahn made the resignations announcement, Oran resident Steve Sauceda spoke up in favor of the police officers.

But Urhahn cut him off.

"We will not accept any positive or negative comments at this time. Let's wash our hands clean of this," Urhahn said.

After the meeting was adjourned, Sauceda said he believed the future police officers would be ousted from the city.

"These guys were doing nothing but their job," said Sauceda, a 46-year resident of Oran. "This is going to happen to the next group of guys they bring in here ... if they don't do what certain people say, they'll be gone, too."

Tragesser was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246