Gary Schaaf, former Perry County sheriff, dies

The Perry County law enforcement community is mourning the loss of a longtime public servant. Former Sheriff Gary Schaaf, 67, died earlier this week.

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of retired Sheriff Gary J. Schaaf,” according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff’s Office. “Sheriff Schaaf was a long-time public servant, serving as Perry County Sheriff for 30 years. Sheriff Schaaf ran his office with a constant steady voice, installed confidence in his staff and citizens, and dedicated his professional life to this community.”

Schaaf was first elected to serve as Perry County sheriff in November 1992, taking office in January 1993. Then was reelected to serve four-year terms in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. He retired at the end of September 2022.

Perry County Sheriff Jason Klaus was hired by Schaaf more than a quarter century ago.

“Sheriff Schaaf hired me back in 1996,” Klaus said. “I was a 21-year-old just out of the academy and he gave me my first opportunity in law enforcement working here at the sheriff’s office.

“I think he’s the ultimate public servant,” Klaus said. “He started as a deputy early on, and then he was the chief of police of Perryville for a little while and then he ran for sheriff of Perry County. For all those years he served in a law enforcement capacity but as a leader of this profession in Perry County and the city of Perryville.”

Schaaf served as the chief of police for the city of Perryville from 1986-1992.

Funeral arrangements have not been released.

“Sheriff Schaaf had been dealing with some medical concerns,” Klaus said. “When he retired, that was one of the issues. We wanted the best for him, a healthy retirement. He almost had two years of retirement, unfortunately, the medical complications became too much.”

Klaus said the sheriff’s office will assist with the funeral but details on that front have not been worked out.

“We’re contacting any previous employee that worked for Sheriff (Schaaf) over those years and we’ll invite them to be a part of this law enforcement community and family that we have,” Klaus said. “He was instrumental in hiring and guiding and mentoring so many of us. We owe a lot of that to him.”

Detective Amber Crites began with the sheriff’s office in February 2011. Crites attended school with Schaaf’s youngest son, Aaron.

“I’ve known Sheriff Schaaf for a long time,” she said. “I finally got a job here (at the sheriff’s office). I started in the jail. He’s always been approachable, you could talk to him. He didn’t really have a lot to say. He never really got excited. He just kinda had that leadership where he didn’t have to yell at anybody; we worked our issues out. If you had questions, you could go to him because of his experience and knowledge. He was constantly looking into new things, particularly the drones. He was very interested in those. If the equipment ever failed, he was into the ham radios. He let us do our jobs, didn’t really interfere a whole lot.”

What was he known for in terms of law enforcement?

“His presence in the county,” Crites said. “He always made sure he was well dressed, always wore his hat, he was out in the county. He went out and helped people on their farms. He went out and did a lot of community policing himself, not necessarily delegating that to us. He just had a lot of contacts. He grew up here. A lot of people respected him. He was a good leader.

It was a long tenure, Crites said.

Over his several decade run as sheriff, Crites said Schaaf was a proven and trusted leader.

“He effectively led us by letting us do our job,” Crites said. “I felt like he was personable, he was approachable, and a lot of people respected him in the community and employee-wise as well.”

Lonnie Johnson began as a jailer with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office in 2002, later serving as operations captain in the jail.

“He gave me the opportunity to be able to follow a dream, and was always a mentor,” said Johnson, who now serves as court security bailiff, a position he has held for more than a decade. “The wisdom and guidance I got from him has helped me further my career. He will definitely be missed."

Perry County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jason Kelley first met Schaaf while in high school. Kelley started taking part in ride-alongs with deputies and later completed the Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University. He joined the sheriff’s office in 2000.

“I’m basically where I’m at because of him,” Kelley said. “Everybody across the state knows him because of his tenure.”

“When you’re a sheriff for 30 years, you meet a lot of people,” Kelley said, adding Schaaf was very respected and acknowledged among peers in the law enforcement community. “Without him, I don’t know if I’m at where I am today. He was a great guy.”

Schaaf graduated from Perryville High School in 1975.

“We went to high school together,” Perry County Coroner Bill Bohnert said. “He was really well liked and well thought of as sheriff by the citizens of Perry County."

Bohnert served with Schaaf from 2017-2022.