GOP NOMINATES MESEY TO RUN FOR SHERIFF

MARBLE HILL -- Police veteran Dan Mesey, a part-time investigator with the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department, will run in a special election to replace ousted Bollinger County Sheriff Januar Peters.

Mesey, of Glen Allen, explained Saturday that he had been nominated by run by the county's Republican Central Committee. The election is scheduled for May 14.

As of Saturday there was no Democratic candidate, Mesey said.

The timetable for the Democratic selection could not be confirmed Saturday as the Bollinger County Democratic Chairman, Murray Dunn, could not be reached. But Eighth District Democratic Chairman Todd McBride said Dunn has mentioned there are some good potential Democratic candidates.

Peters resigned as sheriff last week after being charged with felony stealing. A state audit in January found Peters had misappropriated at least $5,269 in county funds and that nearly $5,150 had ended up in his personal bank account.

The special prosecutor appointed to the case, Robert Fuchs, said last week that the Bollinger County Commission had asked Peters to step down. Jessie Denton, the department's former chief deputy, also resigned. Berry Hughes has been appointed interim sheriff.

Investigation of the sheriff's department would continue, Fuchs said last week.

A native of Granite City, Ill., Mesey, 44, points to his wealth of law enforcement experience. Almost all of it comes from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, from which he retired as a detective.

Mesey retired in August 1988 after 23 years with the department, said a spokesperson with the department's command post, St. Louis Police Officer Ronald Troutt.

Following his retirement, Mesey said, he and his family which includes his wife, Tracy, and children Jason, 18; Lisa, 12; and Jennifer, 6 moved to Bollinger County, where they have relatives. For the last two years, he has worked as the county sheriff department's investigator, he said.

Interviewed Saturday, Mesey said he felt Bollinger County residents want skilled police officers who also have "a display of professional conduct.

"I believe with my background, I'll be able to upgrade the department through training," he said, "and with my administrative skills, I'll be able to make that department both professional and effective.

"I do feel that I'm the best candidate, not only because of my administrative skills, but also because of my knowledge of the streets and criminal activity."

However, Mesey declined to comment on the situation surrounding the sheriff's department.

"I haven't been privy to a lot of the information and it would be unfair (for me) to second-guess ... or comment on the problems within the sheriff's department," Mesey said.

Terming himself a "policeman's policeman," Mesey said he would always strive to better his personnel's working conditions and salaries, while still understanding the county's financial restraints. Both good training and good personnel would overcome what would normally be restrictions caused by the budget restraints, he said.

He estimated the salary of a full-time sheriff deputy at the department as currently being about $800 a month, or approximately $9,600 a year.

Don Whaley, a Whitewater township commissioner on the county's Republican Central Committee, said the committee had unanimously nominated Mesey last Wednesday.

"He sounds like he's got good qualifications to me," he said. "He's got 20 years on the police force in St. Louis and it sounds like he's been through several schools."

Mesey said he joined the St. Louis Police Department as an 18-year-old cadet and during his department career was assigned to numerous units. His achievements, he said, include serving as project coordinator for the development of the department's 50-man, hostage response unit.

Additionally, he served as the unit's negotiator, and developed other police department's hostage response units, including one at the Potosi Police Department earlier this year.

Mesey said he also developed the security system for the St. Louis courts and the personal protection system for the judges; served as a instructor at the St. Louis Police Academy; and was assigned to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Special Offense Unit.